Hardware Secrets’ 2014 conclusion was positive but limited: the Kingston HyperX FURY 240 GiB was a reasonable budget SSD, offering slightly better read results than Kingston’s SSDNow V300 while producing essentially the same write results in the review’s CrystalDiskMark tests. Its value depended on a small price premium and on expectations appropriate for an inexpensive SATA drive—not on a major performance breakthrough.
That verdict applied to a new drive in August 2014. In 2026, a used FURY is worth considering only when its condition is documented, its price is far below a new SATA SSD, and its capacity and workload fit are acceptable.
What drive did the review evaluate?
The review covered the Kingston HyperX FURY SHFS37A/240G, a 2.5-inch SATA SSD marketed as 240 GiB. Hardware Secrets published the review on August 18, 2014; the page later displayed a February 24, 2023 site update. The full specification table is available in the original review.
| Specification | Review information |
|---|---|
| Model | SHFS37A/240G |
| Nominal capacity | 240 GiB |
| Flash installed | 256 GiB, with 16 GiB reserved for overprovisioning, garbage collection and wear leveling, according to the review |
| Form factor | 2.5 inch |
| Thickness | 7 mm |
| Interface | SATA-600 |
| Controller | SandForce SF-2281 |
| Flash configuration | 16 × 16 GiB Kingston FT16B08UCM1-34 devices |
| Separate buffer | Not listed in the review’s technical table |
The difference between installed flash and advertised capacity is normal overprovisioning, not storage lost through a defect. The reserved area gives the controller space for internal maintenance and wear management.
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What was the comparison with the SSDNow V300?
The FURY was evaluated as a value-oriented alternative to Kingston’s SSDNow V300 240 GiB, not as a premium enthusiast drive. Both used the SandForce SF-2281 controller, making the comparison especially relevant: the FURY’s case rested on a modest refinement rather than a new controller platform.
| Drive | Model | Controller | Price recorded August 18, 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston HyperX FURY 240 GiB | SHFS37A/240G | SandForce SF-2281 | $130 |
| Kingston SSDNow V300 240 GiB | SV300S37A/240G | SandForce SF-2281 | $120 |
Those are historical review prices, not current market prices. Hardware Secrets expected the initial $10 difference to narrow, which supported calling the FURY a good budget deal at the time.
What did the tests actually show?
Slightly stronger read results
In the review’s CrystalDiskMark results, the HyperX FURY read somewhat faster than the V300. The conclusion describes this as a slight advantage, not a dramatic generational jump.
Rank #2
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
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- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
No meaningful write advantage
The same conclusion reports identical write results for the two drives in the cited CrystalDiskMark tests. Therefore, “faster than the V300” is too broad: the evidence supports a read improvement, while write performance was effectively tied in that test set.
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Both SSDs used a SandForce controller that compressed data in real time. The review reported better write results with compressible data than with incompressible data. This behavior matters when interpreting period benchmark charts:
- Compressible data: the controller could reduce the amount of flash data written, producing more favorable results.
- Incompressible data: already-compressed media, encrypted data and some application files could not be reduced as effectively, so write performance fell.
- Practical meaning: peak sequential figures were workload-dependent and should not be treated as a guarantee for every file type.
The dedicated Conclusions page is the source for these read, write and data-pattern observations. It does not establish that the FURY is faster in every workload.
Rank #3
- Capacity Display Variance: 500GB external ssd often appears as around 465GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 500 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
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- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
Why the original verdict was reasonable
In 2014, the FURY met the goal Kingston appeared to set for it: provide an inexpensive SATA upgrade with a small edge over another budget Kingston model. The combination of a modest price premium, slightly better read testing and equivalent write testing was enough for Hardware Secrets to call it a good deal.
- It fit standard 2.5-inch bays and 7 mm laptop installations.
- Its SATA-600 interface suited contemporary desktops and laptops, while remaining compatible with older SATA hosts.
- Reserved flash capacity supported the controller’s housekeeping functions.
- It was positioned for affordable everyday storage rather than sustained heavy-write or workstation use.
That is a measured value verdict, not a claim that the FURY belonged to a higher performance class than the V300.
Where the recommendation was limited
- Same controller platform: the FURY and V300 both used SF-2281, so the upgrade was evolutionary.
- Write results did not improve: the review found no meaningful write lead for the FURY in CrystalDiskMark.
- Workload sensitivity: incompressible writes reduced the advantage suggested by compressible-data benchmarks.
- Capacity: 240 GiB is suitable for a basic operating-system drive but restrictive for modern game libraries, photos and video collections.
- Evidence limits: the conclusion did not measure multi-year endurance, current firmware support, surviving-drive reliability or present-day operating-system performance.
MLC flash by itself does not settle those questions. Controller behavior, firmware, age, usage history, warranty and the actual health of a particular unit all matter.
Rank #4
- Capacity Display Variance: 1TB external ssd often appears as around 931GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 1 TB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
- Data Security: Solid state drives S.M.A.R.T. health diagnostics and adaptive TRIM optimizing data block management ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
Does the 2014 conclusion still apply in 2026?
Only as historical context. The review tested a new sample and recorded prices from 2014. It did not establish today’s availability, warranty coverage, firmware support, used-market value or comparative performance against modern SATA SSDs.
A surviving FURY can still be useful in a SATA-only laptop or desktop, especially when replacing a mechanical hard drive. A SATA II host may limit interface throughput, although an SSD can still make seek-heavy tasks feel substantially quicker than a hard disk; that practical benefit is separate from the original benchmark results.
For a new purchase, however, the relevant comparison is not the V300. It is a current SATA SSD with a known warranty and no unknown flash history. If a used FURY costs close to a new SATA model, its original value argument disappears.
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When a used HyperX FURY can make sense
Reasonable use cases
- Repairing an older SATA laptop or desktop at very low cost.
- Providing a lightly used boot or secondary drive after health checks.
- Replacing a failing hard disk when capacity requirements are modest.
Poor use cases
- New PC builds when a new SATA SSD is affordable.
- Sustained-write work such as scratch storage, production video or database workloads.
- Important data without an independent backup.
- Any purchase where the seller cannot document the drive’s condition.
Checklist before buying a used example
- Confirm the label shows the specific SHFS37A/240G model and the expected capacity.
- Request a complete SMART report rather than relying on the product name or an “MLC” claim.
- Review total host writes, percentage used, unsafe shutdowns and any uncorrectable, reallocated or failed-sector indicators.
- Compare the asking price with a new 2.5-inch SATA SSD, including the value of a current warranty.
- Clone or back up existing data before making the drive part of a production system.
- Treat the SSD as storage that can fail; do not use it as the only copy of irreplaceable files.
SMART data can describe a drive’s recorded history, but it cannot guarantee future reliability. Unknown operating conditions, long storage periods and unavailable support history remain risks with legacy hardware.
Final verdict
Then: Hardware Secrets’ August 2014 conclusion was fair. The Kingston HyperX FURY 240 GiB was a credible low-cost alternative to the SSDNow V300, with slightly better read performance, equivalent tested writes and a small historical price premium.
Now: it is a legacy option, not a default modern recommendation. Buy one only when the price is substantially below a new SATA SSD, SMART information is available, the 240 GiB capacity is sufficient and the workload is undemanding. The original “good deal” judgment explains why the drive was attractive in 2014; it does not prove that an old, used unit is the best purchase in 2026.
Quick Recap
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