Seagate BarraCuda SATA SSD (2018)
SATA 2.5" · SATA III 6 Gbps · Phison PS3110-S10
Specifications
| Interface | SATA III 6 Gbps |
|---|---|
| Controller | Phison PS3110-S10 |
| NAND Type | Toshiba BiCS3 64-layer 3D TLC |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Seq Read | 560 MB/s |
|---|---|
| Seq Write | 540 MB/s |
| Rand Read | 90,000 IOPS |
| Rand Write | 90,000 IOPS |
| Endurance | 1067 TBW |
| Active Power | 3.1 W |
| Idle Power | 0.225 W |
| Seq Read | 560 MB/s |
|---|---|
| Seq Write | 540 MB/s |
| Rand Read | 90,000 IOPS |
| Rand Write | 90,000 IOPS |
| Endurance | 485 TBW |
| Active Power | 2.8 W |
| Idle Power | 0.221 W |
| Seq Read | 560 MB/s |
|---|---|
| Seq Write | 535 MB/s |
| Rand Read | 90,000 IOPS |
| Rand Write | 90,000 IOPS |
| Endurance | 249 TBW |
| Active Power | 2.6 W |
| Idle Power | 0.192 W |
| Seq Read | 560 MB/s |
|---|---|
| Seq Write | 530 MB/s |
| Rand Read | 90,000 IOPS |
| Rand Write | 90,000 IOPS |
| Endurance | 120 TBW |
| Active Power | 2.6 W |
| Idle Power | 0.185 W |
Overview
Seagate has offered multiple SSDs under the BarraCuda name through the years. The below information pertains to a SATA SSD released in 2018, based on the Phison S10 controller and TLC NAND.
Specifications
The 2018 Seagate Barracuda SATA SSD comes in a standard 2.5-inch form factor, measuring 7mm in thickness. Capacities range from 250 GB to 2 TB.
At the heart of the Barracuda SSD is a Seagate-branded Phison S10 controller (PS3110-S10-X). This controller has been used by competitors such as the Kingston HyperX Savage and Corsair Neutron XT. Performance is not necessarily identical, however, as it supports multiple generations of NAND flash memory. In terms of NAND, the BarraCuda comes with Toshiba's 64-layer 3D TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND.
The interface is SATA 6Gb/s, which made the Barracuda an accessible upgrade option for a wide range of computers at the time.
As for performance specifications, these are largely similar for all capacities with 560 MB/s sequential read and 90,000 IOPS random transfer rates. These figures positioned the Barracuda SSD as one of the more competitive options in the SATA SSD market around 2018.
The drive's endurance ratings in term of Total Bytes Written (TBW) range from 120 TB for the 250 GB model to 1,067 TB for the 2 TB variant. This translates to a durability rating of approximately 0.3 Drive Writes Per Day (DWPD) over the course of its 5-year warranty period.
Key Competitors
Barracuda vs. Samsung 860 EVO
The Samsung 860 EVO was long considered the gold standard in SATA SSDs. In a direct comparison, the Barracuda SSD holds its ground quite well.
- Performance: The Barracuda matches the 860 EVO closely in sequential read/write performance, with both drives saturating the SATA interface in ideal conditions. While the 860 EVO has a slight edge in sustained random operations, the Barracuda's peak performance is on par.
- Endurance: Both drives offer similar endurance ratings, with the Barracuda slightly edging out in some capacity tiers.
vs. Crucial MX500
Another popular choice in the SATA SSD market is the Crucial MX500:
- Performance: The Barracuda and MX500 trade blows in various benchmarks, with neither drive consistently outperforming the other across all tests.
- Endurance: The Barracuda is well ahead of the MX500, which tops out at 700 TBW for 2 TB model
Reviews
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“In order to be a top-tier competitor in the consumer SSD space, Seagate will have to be able to consistently differentiate their products from the competition. A Phison-based product line makes that pretty difficult, since there are dozens of brands selling very similar products.”
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“Looking at performance the Seagate BarraCuda SSD isn’t going to win any awards. While tests reflecting read performance did pretty well, write performance was the weakness of this drive.”