Samsung's 840 Pro Series SSD reviewed

Samsung's 830 Series has been our favorite SSD for the better part of a year now. We gave the drive our coveted Editor's Choice award when we reviewed it, and we've been recommending the thing ever since. Can you blame us? The 830 Series combines excellent all-around performance and solid reliability with a price tag that won't break the bank—or at least it did. Recently, prices have risen steadily as the drive's online stocks have dwindled. Some models are no longer available from major vendors, and before long, eBay will be the only way to get an 830 Series SSD delivered to your door.

Our old favorite is disappearing from online listings because it's being replaced by a new generation: the 840 family. Samsung has a two-pronged attack this time around. At the low end of the market, the 840 Series targets budget-conscious consumers. For those who crave performance, there's the 840 Pro Series.

Although they're based on the same controller technology, the 840 Series and its Pro sibling are very different animals. The 840 Series uses TLC NAND, which has slower write performance and shorter endurance than the MLC flash found in most consumer grade SSDs, including the old 830 Series and the new 840 Pro. Despite its more professional moniker, 840 Pro is the 830 Series' true heir.