SSD of the Week – Is the 2TB CUK Cyclone a Samsung 3D V-NAND, SandForce or JMicron?

Okay, so this Week’s SSD of the Week is a bit extraordinary and even leaves us a bit confused. Just when we thought the 2TB SSDs from Samsung had no competition we stumbled across a new 2TB SSD while looking for deals on Amazon! It is called the CUK Cyclone by a seller called Computer Upgrade King.

Immediately we asked ourselves, why haven’t we heard of these guys before? After doing a bit of research, we found that they have been an accredited reseller and system builder business in Virginia since 2012. They seem to also have a good rating on eBay, which they have been a member of since 2000.

CUK Cyclone 2TB

The CUK Cyclone is a 2.5″ 7mm SATA 6Gb/s SSD. As we mentioned earlier, it comes in a 2TB capacity ($749.99), but capacities of 120GB-1TB are also available at very reasonable rates. CUK covers this line of SSDs with a 3-year warranty. Speeds for capacities 120GB-1TB are rated for up to 550MB/s read and 515MB/s write. IOPS are rated for up to 90K. These models are also listed to have SandForce SF-2281 controllers. The 2TB model is rated for 510MB/s read and 500MB/s write speeds and up to 97K/88K IOPS read/write.

When it comes to the controller for the 2TB model, this is where it gets interesting. On Amazon, this drive is listed as having a JMicron controller, but in contrast their website lists it as having an MEX controller and 32 layer 3D V-NAND with AES 256 bit encryption support. Could this be the first drive out on the market with the new JMicron JMF680 controller? Or could this be a rebranded Samsung SSD? We are betting on it being a JMicron drive, but you never know. The listed MEX controller could be a misprint for MHX, which is in the 2TB Samsung 850 EVO and Pro SSDs as the MEX controller cannot support over 1TB capacities.

We will be contacting CUK shortly to find out more information and see if we can secure a sample for review. Until then, comment down below and tell us what you think. Could this be a viable SSD option for you at 2TB or are they just really confused as to their own specs?  In any case…2TB at $749 is definitely in the large capacity value realm.

Check out the CUK Cyclone SSD at Amazon Today!

7 comments

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    Z Inter fan - Kuwait

    Very intriguing,

    Amazon product description says (Powered by Dual Samsung 1TB Solid State Drives) yet, it is still 7mm in hieght!

    I guess we have to wait for you guys to dismantle one for us…

    • blank

      Nothing about this smells quite right. Perhaps writing this up padded with some details regarding those numerous questions AFTER contacting CUK would have been more prudent.

    • blank

      It could also have Phison S10, is it supports 2TB of flash aswell.

    • blank

      on their site it says, “Driven by dual Samsung MZ-M5E1T0 850 EVO mSATA 1TB SSDs in span on a JMicron JMS562 controller”

      So it’s a Dual mSATA to SATA adapter using a JMS562 controller, with the drives in a Raid 0 to act as 1 2TB drive instead of 2 1TB drives.

  2. blank

    The case, labelling and packaging are very similar in style to the Mushkin and Eluktronic SSDs reviewed earlier. Eluktronics SSDs are manufactured at the Mushkin plant in Texas.

    If you look at the Amazon customer reviews you’ll notice that each drive has 1 review and it is the SAME. Can you spell ‘shill’? I have concerns already……..

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