The Kingston SSDVNow SSD is the first SSD to use new Toshiba 19nm Toggle mode DDR memory paired with the SandForce SF-2281 controller.

As a Sandforce-based drive, the Kingston SSDNow V300 120GB performed better with compressible rather than with incompressible files, at least in writing tests. Specifically, with small 4K compressible files the drive performed almost as fast as its enthusiast-grade brother, the Kingston HyperX 120GB SSD, as well as another competitor, the Crucial m4 SSD. However, the SSDNow V300 showed its weakness at higher queue depths (QD) when reading 4K compressible files.

In the writing part with compressible 4K files, the drive was fast and again kept going head-to- head with the HyperX, although it lagged behind its main competitor in the category, the OCZ Vertex 4 120GB. Surprisingly, the SSDNow V300 120GB did it very well with writing 4K compressible files in higher QD32.

The Kingston SSDNow V300 drive is fast with larger ( 2MB-4MB) compressible files in both reading and writing tasks, closing the gap with the Vertex 4 SSD.

The drive had also a very good sequential read and write performance with compressible files, both rated at around 450MB/s or even higher, confirming its official specifications quoted by Kingston. Sequential writing with incompressible files was very slow, as it typically happens with Sandforce-based drives. Here both the Crucial m4 and the OCZ Vertex 4 SSDs excel.

Speaking of incompressible files, the Kingston SSDNow V300 120GB SSD had an average random read performance with small files, which generally decreased at higher QD and when multiple requests were sent simultaneously to the SSD. On the other hand, the drive's speed when writing of 4K incompressible files was adequate matching the performance of the Vertex 4 SSD, at least in low queue depths.

With all that in mind and the very high competition at the SSD market, it's always hard to come up with a recommendation. While the drive's performance is not what we would call top notch, it's certainly decent. Price-wise, the Kingston SSDNow V300 120GB is a good deal, provided that priced at $109.99, it would cost you $1.04/GB. At the same price-range, you will find the Kingston HyperX 120GB, the Crucial M4 SSD and the OCZ Vertex 3 MAX IOPS priced at $115. The faster Vertex 4 would cost you $30 more.