Corsair Force Series 100GB SandForce 1200 SSD Review

Corsair Force Series 100GB SSD Intro

The Corsair Force series Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are the first from Corsair to feature a controller from Sandforce. Specifically, the 100GB and 200GB models employ the SF-1200 controller which is said to yield better results than the Indilinx controller. We are excited to be one of the few sites to get an early peek at the 100GB version and put it through its paces. This series ostensibly represents the best performing drives they currently offer and are starting to show up at your favorite electronics retailer in the $450 price range as we found it listed at Dell under the part number CSSD-F100GB2-BRKT for $469.99.

We saw how the more expensive enterprise SF-1500 controller fared on our OCZ Vertex LE review and the
specifications Corsair has listed for the Force 100GB drive are 285MB/s read and 275MB/s write which are above the specifications given for the Vertex LE. Pretty high expectations are being set and for the sake of the readers, I’ll refrain from Star Wars movie quotes when referring to the Force SSD.

Corsair’s product overview:

• Fast PerformanceGames, applications and files load faster, while your system is more responsive
• CompatibleProven technology with installations on tens of thousands of systems worldwide
• Flexible use2.5″ form factor for your notebook or netbook needs, or use with included 3.5″ bracket for your desktop computer
• Silent operationNo moving parts means zero noise and high reliability
• Low PowerExtend battery life for notebook and netbook users
• ReliableOver 1,000,000 hours mean time between failures
• Backed by CorsairA respected name with a passion for great service and support

Features:

• Maximum sequential read speed 285MB/second
• Maximum sequential write speed 275MB/second
• Latest generation Sandforce controller and MLC NAND flash for fast performance
• Internal SATA II connectivity
• TRIM support (O/S support required)
• No moving parts for increased durability and reliability and quieter operations over standard hard disk drives
• Decreased power usage for increased notebook or netbook battery life
• 2.5″ form factor for your portable computer needs
• Included 2.5″ to 3.5″ bracket for installation on your desktop computer
• Two year warranty

*EDITORS NOTE: As of mid May 2010 Corsair has upped the warranty to 3 years.

If those speeds are attainable by the drive, they will certainly be pushing the bandwidth boundaries of the SATA II ports which top out at 300Mb/s. If you take in consideration the overhead required, they actually offer less true actual usable bandwidth.

Our review sample didn’t include an adapter bracket like the one shown above but the retail package should contain one which makes it much easier to mount in a case. This one was from a Nova drive we are reviewing as well but I would expect that they would be identical. I’ll personally be happy when case manufacturers start including brackets or 2.5″ bays as the SSD brackets don’t always fit the configuration of every case.

Let’s have a look at the guts and see what sights are to behold.