OCZ Vector 256 GB Review: An SSD Powered By Barefoot 3

4 KB Random Performance

Random Read Performance (background info)

Examples include antivirus scans and typing in Word

At a queue depth of one, all of the SSDs in our comparison move between 25-30 MB/s. As we scale up to 32 outstanding I/O requests, the 256 GB Vector leads the pack, delivering ~390 MB/s (or roughly 100 000 IOPS). That's roughly 15% faster than the Vertex 4, and 10% faster than Samsung's 840 Pro. In between, though, the Vector trails both the Vertex 4 and the 840 Pro. 

In an effort to minimize the redundancy of including multiple SandForce-based drives in our charts, we're using Intel's SSD 520 to represent the other drives out there with an SF-22xx controller and synchronous NAND. Compared to those SSDs, the new Vector represents a major improvement at queue depths of eight and higher.

Random Write Performance

Examples include email, file compression, and Web browsing

Between a queue depth of one and four, the Vector manages a measurable lead over the Intel SSD 520 standing in for second-gen SandForce drives with synchronous NAND in 4 KB random writes. Whereas most SSDs start at around ~50 MB/s, OCZ's newest SSD leads off at ~80 MB/s.

Beyond a queue depth of four, the Vector falls behind the Vertex 4 and 840 Pro, but then spikes at a queue depth of 32.

Although the Vertex 4 does really well at high queue depths, it's not as compelling in this test where we'd want it to be (at lower queue depths more representative of desktop workloads). To that end, the Vector again impresses.

  • gnesterenko
    "In the real world, it's almost a certainty that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them (or a number of the nearly-as-fast but tangibly less expensive models featured each month in Best SSDs For The Money)."

    This, This, This. All SSDs are pretty amazing at this point for me, the average user. What I care fare more about is - Are they reliable. At the moment, it still seems that Intel holds the reliability crown. Reviews like this are great, for sure, but they don't answer the most important question sadly.
    Reply
  • acku
    gnesterenko"In the real world, it's almost a certainty that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them (or a number of the nearly-as-fast but tangibly less expensive models featured each month in Best SSDs For The Money)."This, This, This. All SSDs are pretty amazing at this point for me, the average user. What I care fare more about is - Are they reliable. At the moment, it still seems that Intel holds the reliability crown. Reviews like this are great, for sure, but they don't answer the most important question sadly.
    Let's make one thing clear. Endurance, reliability, durability, they all refer to different things.

    When it comes to reliablity, everything we know is rather anecdotal. There are no published RMA rates (only return rates and for a 500 sample size), so its rather flawed. Second, two users subject their SSDs in different ways. The first may have more random data in their workload. You can't make an evaluation that drive x failed for user y therefore its bad. What you do matters. Unlike HDDs, performance and characteristics of the drive change based on what you do to it. Since no two users do the same thing with their system, the only real way to test this out is to get a few thousand SSDs, subject them to the same workload in a big data center for a few years. I'd love to do this but naturally, it's really not feasible. :)

    Cheers,
    Andrew Ku
    Reply
  • mayankleoboy1
    So basically all good SSD's are constrained by the SATA3 interface. I cant wait for the direct PCIE interface(express pcie ?) to become standard.
    Reply
  • Hupiscratch
    Do these drives (specially the Samsung 840) support TRIM in RAID 0 arrays or this is a property related to the chipset?
    Reply
  • acku
    HupiscratchDo these drives (specially the Samsung 840) support TRIM in RAID 0 arrays or this is a property related to the chipset?
    That's a mobo thing. You're going to want a 7-series chipset from Intel.

    Cheers,
    Andrew Ku
    Reply
  • Jerky_san
    Jebus Samsungs are such strong contenders on all fields..
    Reply
  • edlivian
    i dont care how much slower the crucial m4 is compared to the new kids on the block, I will keep stocking them for myself and company, since that is the only one that has never failed me.
    Reply
  • acku
    10447277 said:
    i dont care how much slower the crucial m4 is compared to the new kids on the block, I will keep stocking them for myself and company, since that is the only one that has never failed me.

    Glad to hear the m4s are working out for you! Indeed, they have a pretty good track record.

    Cheers,
    Andrew Ku
    Reply
  • dingo07
    So should I buy some of thier stock now...? It can't get much lower than them going out of business from the lawsuits... :/
    Reply
  • I just hope that there won't be as many firmware updates with this drive. I got tired of that with my past 2 OCZ SSD's (Vertex 3 & Vertex Turbo). It was way too often, almost as much as my GPU drivers. That being said, they both have given me no issues whatsoever and run like champs. I see a 256GB Vector in my future.
    Reply