Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60GB review

Mushkin might not be as well-known as some of the larger SSD manufacturers, but its Callisto Deluxe SSD shares many of the features as its high-end rivals. As well as TRIM support for improved disk maintenance over time, the 60GB disk has a Sandforce memory controller.

In spite of using the same SF-1200 controller used by both Corsair and OCZ in their higher-end SSDs, we were surprised when the Callisto Deluxe produced some less than impressive write speeds in our file transfer tests. Large files were written at 83.4MB/s and small files an even slower 81.6MB/s. Large file reads were much more in line with our expectations, reaching a swift 137.6MB/s. Like many other SSDs we’ve tested, small file read speeds were slow at just 39.2MB/s.

The sheer number of files we use in our small file benchmark can easily flood an SSD’s memory controller. Because it can’t re-arrange data blocks quickly enough to accommodate the new files, its average overall speed is reduced, which can clearly be seen here. This shouldn’t be an issue in everyday use, unless you regularly make system backups or work with many hundreds of small files, but it’s still worth bearing in mind.

The 60GB Callisto Deluxe costs £90, which is around £10 more than the Kingston V100 64GB. It comes with a 3½in mounting kit, but this doesn’t make up for the poorer performance in our tests. As you can buy mounting brackets for less than £5, the Kingston is the better choice for anyone looking to upgrade on a budget.