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Nick Nelson published in Technology

Kingston A400 SSD Review

Kingston A400 SSD

The Kingston A400 SSD is a standard 2.5-inch SATA solid-state drive. The prices for SSDs are so low it doesn’t make sense not to buy one. We are talking about a faster PC boot speed, sleep speed, programs opening noticeably faster, and improving your overall productivity. When it comes to reasonable SSDs, we look at Kingston, which has plenty of solid-state drives with different capacities and targets various markets. Let’s check out the Kingston A400 SATA SSD 

The Kingston A400 is a great drive that features one of the best cost-performance ratios on the market, but how does it stand up against other 2.5-inch SATA SSDs? Let’s find out!

Kingston’s A400 solid-state drive dramatically improves the responsiveness of your existing system with incredible boot, loading, and transfer times compared to mechanical hard drives. Powered by the latest-gen controller for reading and write speeds up to 500MB/s and 450MB/s1, this SSD is 10x faster than a traditional hard drive for higher performance, ultra-responsive multi-tasking, and an overall faster system. Also more reliable and durable than a hard drive, A400 is available in multiple capacities from 120GB–1.92TB2.

Kingston A400 comes in a 7mm form factor that is suitable both for laptops and desktop computers.

Kingston A400 SSD Review

Within this article, we will be covering a full review of the A400 SSD, including the following:

  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages
  • Technical Specifications
  • Benchmark Tests
  • Should You Buy it?
  • Alternatives

Let’s get into the review…

We tested the 240 GB model that you see in the picture below. The case of the Kingston A400 is made of light plastic materials, and this SSD drive weighs only 1.4 ounces or 41 grams. Even though Kingston states that A400 is shock and vibration resistant, it feels somewhat fragile, and we would not want to test its stated ruggedness.

Kingston A400 SSD – Pros & Cons

Here’s our summary of the various advantages and disadvantages of the A400 SDD, to help you decide whether it has what you’re looking for:

+ Pros

  • Affordable
  • Low power consumption
  • 3-year warranty
  • Solid performance

– Cons

  • No software tool
  • Not enough performance compared to drives that are slightly more expensive

Kingston A400 250GB SSD Technical Specifications

The Kingston A400 is a standard 2.5-inch SATA solid-state drive. It comes without a SATA cable, with no screws. By the looks of it, Kingston has indeed cut all corners to lower the price tag. Although the Kingston A400 comes in 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB capacities, we chose to talk about the 240GB model.

While the three capacities have the same 500MBps sequential reads, the write speeds differ 320MBps, 350MBps, and 450MBps respectively.

  • Form Factor: 2.5″
  • Capacity: 250GB
  • Interface: SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s) – with backwards compatibility to SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s)
  • NAND: 3D
  • Controller: Phison PS3111-S11
  • Flash Memory: Toshiba 15nm TLC
  • Data Transfer (ATTO): up to 500MB/s Read and 350MB/s Write (240GB)
  • Weight: 41g (240-480GB – 2.5”)
  • Power Consumption: 0.195W Idle / 0.279W Avg / 0.642W (MAX) Read / 1.535W (MAX) Write
  • Dimensions: 100.0mm x 69.9mm x 7.0mm (2.5”)
  • Operating temperature: 0°C~70°C
  • Storage temperature: -40°C~85°C
  • Vibration operating: 2.17G Peak (7–800Hz)
  • Vibration non-operating: 20G Peak (10–2000Hz)
  • Life expectancy: 1 million hours MTBF
  • Total Bytes Written (TBW)4: 240GB: 80TB
  • Warranty & Endurance: Limited 3-year warranty with free technical support

Kingston A400 250GB SSD Benchmark Tests

We’ve done separate benchmark tests for the Kingston A400 SSD using Crystal Disk Mark and User Benchmarks. Here are the results:

CrystalDiskMark

  • Sequential Read Speed: 0 MB/s
  • Sequential Write Speed: 3 MB/s
  • Sequential Read Speed (Q32T1): 3 MB/s
  • Sequential Write Speed (Q32T1): 1 MB/s
  • 4K Random Read Speed: 82 MB/s
  • 4K Random Write Speed: 43 MB/s
  • 4K Random Read Speed (Q32T1): 2 MB/s
  • 4K Random Write Speed (Q32T1): 5 MB/s

Comparing Kingston A400’s claimed 500MB/s read and 320MB/s write speeds for the 240 GB model with the results from CrystalDiskMark, we see that there’s a huge gap in write performance. Sequential performance is good, but not that good either. 4K is where Kingston A400 SATA SSD rises against its opponents.

User benchmark – Average Results

  • Sequential Read Speed: 423 MB/s
  • Sequential Write Speed: 310 MB/s
  • 4K Random Read Speed: 27 MB/s
  • 4K Random Write Speed: 55.6 MB/s

Results from the User benchmark show better numbers, except for the 4K random write speed. So far, Kingston A400 nearly delivers what it promises, as peak results surpass Kingston’s claimed performance, reaching a Sequential Read Speed of 511 MB/s and 449 MB/s.

The Verdict

Although Kingston A400 250GB SSD delivers what it claims and sometimes goes even further, can we say it was a great offer in 2020? If you still have an HDD and want to improve an aging laptop or PC, sure. But if you have a more recent PC or laptop, you’d surely want something with more oomph, and Kingston A400 SATA SSD 250GB lacks that. After all, it’s a three-year-old SSD, and as time passed, we’ve seen newer SSDs from both Kingston and its competitors.

Kingston A400 is a great choice for budget users. If you need to speed up your PC and ditch the slow HDD drive that you have, Kingston A400 SSD is a good choice that delivers noticeable speed improvements. It is not the fastest SSD drive that you can get, nor does it use the most durable type of flash memory, but it does feature a 3 years warranty, and it gives you respectable performance at a low price that is hard to beat.

 

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imscout published in Technology

Why and how would you move your MBOX Files to an Office 365 account?

MBOX is a widely used file format to store mailbox data in desktop email applications, such as Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, SeaMonkey, PocoMail, Apple Mail, and others. MBOX files are supported by all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and UNIX.

Office 365 is a Microsoft-provided cloud-based service that offers a suite of applications. The user can operate tools that are well-featured and accessible from any location. Emails, contacts, to-do lists, and notebooks are all stored in this program.

Skype for Business, Excel, and other Office 365 programs can be used. Business enterprises embrace it because it improves workplace communication efficiency.

Why do you need to move MBOX files to Office 365?

An Outlook user is well aware that an MBOX file cannot be opened directly. Additionally, as a user, you are aware of how MBOX files encounter various issues when accessed. Users become confused as a result of these obstacles, necessitating the conversion of these files to more dependable service. This is why MBOX files must be moved or imported into Office 365.

Most people copy MBOX files to Office 365 because .mbox file format applications have restricted functionalities. MS O365 allows users to view email messages, calendar events, tasks, and other stuff from any location. Furthermore, cloud access expands the range of applications that can be used with this program. It successfully resolves all of the primary concerns encountered when using MBOX-compatible email clients.

In summary, some of the primary reasons for uploading MBOX to Office 365 include the inability to load the MBOX email files. MBOX files, which the desktop client supports, might be challenging to work with at times. It has been observed that some applications make it difficult to open MBOX files and obstruct their use. All programs that support the platform are considered platform-dependent.

Desktop-based email client apps use the mbox file type. They keep the entire database on local storage, and it only allows access to the mailbox from the desktop. As a result, people find it difficult to access their emails at any time and from any location. As the number of emails and other data items grows, the MBOX file becomes enormous. Working with such large MBOX files becomes problematic due to the inherent nature of the .mbox file format.

How to move the MBOX files to Office 365 manually?

  • Open Thunderbird and enter your Gmail account information.
  • In Thunderbird, create a new folder where you can save the emails you want to open in Outlook.
  • Choose which emails you want to open in Outlook.
  • Place them in the new folder.
  • Drag and drop items into the new folder or use the Move command.
  • Now open Outlook and choose the emails you want to add to your inbox.
  • Now drag the file into a new Outlook folder.
  • You’ll be able to see them in the new folder this way.
  • If you want to use the manual way, follow the steps above.
  • This system, however, may take some time to implement.
  • As a result, it is recommended that you employ the automatic MBOX to Office 365 technique using third-party tools.

Follow the above procedure if you want to use the manual method. However, this system might be time-consuming. Therefore, you should use the automated process via Stellar Converter for MBOX.

How to move MBOX files to Office 365 using Stellar Converter for MBOX?

The Stellar Converter for MBOX makes file conversion straightforward by making it easy to access different aspects within the application. You only need to follow a few simple steps to convert MBOX files to Office 365. Every time you view the MBOX file, the app prompts you to convert it.

Follow the steps outlined below to simplify the converting process once you’ve completed the download, installation, and registration. Click the Email Client button and choose an email client to initiate the conversion. Select File/Select Identity Folder option from the Select File/Folder dialog box, then “Find Files”. You can select the files you want to work with from this menu.

Alternatively, you can search for the files using the “Find Files” option. This function is useful since it displays all of the files converted for a specific email client, eliminating searching for them. The application will scan the files you’ve selected.

After that, you’ll see your chosen file/identity path in the Select File/Folder Path text box. To continue, click “Convert.” The files were converted quickly without much hassle. To save the files after they have been converted, go to the “Save Converted File” tab. It was easy to save the converted email files too. The numerous file saving options help users choose the file formats as per their requirements. To save the files, you’ll need a Microsoft Outlook account.

The list with the converted files is available under the Preview window. From the toolbar, select the Convert option to save the converted files. Select Office 365 from the drop-down menu and then select OK. Select emails can also be saved in EML and MSG formats. The Technical edition of Stellar Converter for Office 365 helps users save the email files in RTF, PDF, and HTML formats as well.

Data or selected emails from single/multiple mailboxes can be converted using this software. After the scanning is complete, you can find the list of all converted mail items in the left pane. A preview will appear on the right side when you choose any email item, and users can also see a preview of attachments before they open them.

If you’re having problems with your MBOX-based email client and wish to upgrade to a better platform, Stellar Converter for MBOX is a good option. It will check for probable corruption in the MBOX file and then move the healthy data to Office 365. You can also use software to transfer MBOX emails to Exchange, IBM Domino, Novell GroupWise, and other email servers. As previously stated, manual approaches have some limitations, and manual techniques should only be utilized if you are willing to take risks. Otherwise, there is a professional tool that can import MBOX files and has a lot of features.

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bhawna published in Business, Community

FCRA Registration Procedure Apply Online

What are the documents to be enclosed with the application?

(a) Following documents should be enclosed with the application for grant of Registration:

(i) Hard copy of the online application, duly signed by the Chief Functionary of the association;

(ii) Certified copy of registration certificate or Trust deed etc., as the case may be;

(iii) Activity Report indicating details of activities during the last three years;

(iv) Copies of audited statement of accounts for the past three years (Assets and Liabilities, Receipt and Payment, Income and Expenditure);

(v) If functioning as editor, owner, printer or publisher of a publication registered under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers for India that the publication is not a newspaper in terms of section 1(1) of the said Act.

(vi) Fee of Rs. 2000/- by means of demand draft or banker’s cheque in favor of the “Pay and Accounts Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs”, payable at New Delhi.

(b) Following documents should be enclosed with the application for grant of Prior Permission:

(i) Hard copy of the online application, duly signed by the Chief Functionary of the association;

(ii) Certified copy of registration certificate or Trust deed etc., as the case may be;

(iii) Commitment letter from foreign donor specifying the amount of foreign contribution and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given;

(iv) Copy of the project report for which foreign contribution is solicited/being offered and is proposed to be utilized;

(v) If functioning as editor, owner, printer or publisher of a publication registered under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, a certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers for India that the publication is not a newspaper in terms of section 1(1) of the said Act.

(vi) Fee of Rs. 1000/- by means of demand draft or banker’s cheque in favor of the “Pay and Accounts Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs”, payable at New Delhi.

Note: The hard copy of the on-line application along with all the documents mentioned above must reach the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division (FCRA Wing), NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi – 110 001 within thirty days of the submission of the on-line application, failing which the request of the person for grant of registration or prior permission, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have ceased.

How to find the status of pending application for registration/prior permission. ?

Status of pending applications for grant of FCRA registration or prior permission may be checked on-line from the Ministry of Home Affairs web-site – http://mha.nic.in/fcraweb/fc_online.htm. One needs to fill in the numbers on acknowledgement letter or any correspondence from MHA (Foreigners Division) in the blank format which pops up on the screen after selection of status enquiry icon (registration/prior permission, as the case may be)

Can the Government cancel the certificate of registration granted to a person under FCRA?

Yes. The conditions for cancellation of certificate, as prescribed under section 14 of FCRA, 2010 are ‒

(1) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied after making such inquiry as it may deem fit, by an order, cancel the certificate if —

(a) the holder of the certificate has made a statement in, or in relation to, the application for the grant of registration or renewal thereof, which is incorrect or false; or

(b) the holder of the certificate has violated any of the terms and conditions of the certificate or renewal thereof; or

(c) in the opinion of the Central Government, it is necessary in the public interest to cancel the certificate; or

(d) the holder of the certificate has violated any of the provisions of this Act or rules or order made thereunder.

(e) if the holder of the certificate has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of the society for two consecutive years or has become defunct. 

(2) No order of cancellation of certificate under this section shall be made unless the person concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. 

(3) Any person whose certificate has been canceled under this section shall not be eligible for registration or grant of prior permission for a period of three years from the date of cancellation of such certificate. 

Can the Government suspend the certificate of registration granted to a person under FCRA?

The conditions for suspension of certificate, as prescribed under section 13 of FCRA, 2010 are ‒

(1) Where the Central Government, for reasons to be recorded in writing, is satisfied that pending consideration of the question of canceling the certificate on any of the grounds mentioned in sub-section (1) of Section, 14, it is necessary so to do, it may, by

order in writing, suspend the certificate for such period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days as may be specified in the order.

(2) Every person whose certificate has been suspended shall ‒

(a) not receive any foreign contribution during the period of suspension of certificate:

Provided that the Central Government, on an application made by such person, if it considers appropriate, allow receipt of any foreign contribution by such person on such terms and conditions as it may specify;

(b) utilize, in the prescribed manner, the foreign contribution in his custody with the prior approval of the Central Government.

In terms of Rule 14 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) rules, 2011, the unspent amount that can be utilized in case of suspension of a certificate of registration may be as under: –

(a) In case the certificate of registration is suspended under sub-section (1) of section 13 of the Act, up to twenty-five per cent of the unutilised amount may be spent, with the prior approval of the Central Government, for the declared aims and objects for which the foreign contribution was received.

(b) The remaining seventy-five per cent of the unutilised foreign contribution shall be utilized only after revocation of suspension of the certificate of registration.

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