Intel’s X25-E SSD Walks All Over The Competition
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Page 1:They Did It Again: X25-E For Servers Takes Off
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Page 2: The X25-E Enterprise SSD
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Page 3:Test Setup, Transfer Diagram
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Page 4:Throughput, Interface Performance
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Page 5:I/O Performance, Access Time
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Page 6:Client Application Performance And Power Consumption
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Page 7:Workstation I/O Efficiency
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Page 8: Streaming Read Efficiency
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Page 9: Conclusion
Test Setup, Transfer Diagram
| Low Level System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processor(s) | 2x Intel Xeon Processor (Nocona core), 3.6 GHz, FSB800, 1 MB L2 Cache |
| Platform | Asus NCL-DS (Socket 604), Intel E7520 Chipset, BIOS 1005 |
| RAM | Corsair CM72DD512AR-400 (DDR2-400 ECC, reg.), 2x 512 MB, CL3-3-3-10 Timings |
| System Hard Drive | Western Digital Caviar WD1200JB 120 GB, 7,200 RPM, 8 MB Cache, UltraATA/100 |
| Mass Storage Controller(s) | Intel 82801EB UltraATA/100 Controller (ICH5) Promise SATA 300TX4 Promise FastTrak TX4310 Driver 2.06.1.310 |
| Networking | Broadcom BCM5721 On-Board Gigabit Ethernet NIC |
| Graphic Subsystem | On-Board Graphics ATI RageXL, 8 MB |
| System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Performance Measurements | c't h2benchw 3.6, PCMark05 V1.01 |
| I/O Performance | IOMeter 2003.05.10, Fileserver-Benchmark, Webserver-Benchmark, Database-Benchmark, Workstation-Benchmark |
| Performance and Power Measurements | IOMeter 2006.07.27, Workstation-Benchmark, Streaming-Benchmark |
| System Software and Drivers | |
|---|---|
| OS | Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, Service Pack 1 |
| Platform Driver | Intel Chipset Installation Utility 7.0.0.1025 |
| Graphics Driver | Default Windows Graphics Driver |
| Efficiency Test Platform | |
|---|---|
| Notebook | Dell Latitude D630, Mobile Intel GM965 Express Chipset |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 (45nm; 2600 MHz, 6 MB L2 Cache) |
| RAM | Corsair ValueRAM 2x 2048 MB DDR2-667 SDRAM 5-5-5-15 |
| DVD-ROM | 8x DVD+/-RW |
| Wireless | Intel 4965 WLAN (802.11a/g/n) mini Card |
| Screen | 14.1 inch Widescreen WXGA+ LCD (1400x900) |
| Graphics Card | Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 |
| Sound Card | Integrated |
| Power Supply | 9-Cell/85WHr Primary Battery |
| System Software and Drivers | |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows Vista Ultimate 6.0 Build 6000 SP1 |
| DirectX Version | 10 |
| Platform Drivers Intel | Version 8.2.0.1014 |
| Graphics Drivers | igdumd32.dll (7.14.00.10.1253) |
X25-E Transfer Diagram
The X25-E doesn’t provide throughput that’s as steady and controllable as on a hard drive, especially on writes, but the overall performance is still more than impressive. Bear in mind that this isn’t a drive one would buy for its throughput; modern 15,000 RPM hard drives aren’t too far away from these numbers at only a fraction of the cost. The X25-E was made to dominate in I/O performance, as you’ll see on the following pages.
Summary
