OCZ Vector 256GB Indilinx Barefoot 3 SSD Review

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Test System & Comparison Drives

Legit Reviews Test System

All tests were performed on a fresh and up-to-date install of Windows 7 Pro x64 with no other applications running while using AHCI mode set through the BIOS. Synthetic Benchmarks were run with the OS loaded on a 40GB Corsair Force SSD. In between every test, the test drive was secure erased using OCZ’s own toolbox application. As such, all results should be indicative of optimal performance. All components were set to their default speeds and are listed below.

LR Test Bench

P67 Test Bench

Intel LGA 1155 Test Platform
Component Brand/Model Live Pricing

Processor

Core i5 2500k

Motherboard

ASUS P8P67 Deluxe

Memory

Crucial 2 x 2GB PC3-10600

Video Card

Gigabyte GeForce GT 430

OS Drive

Corsair Force 120GB (FW 2.4)

Power Supply

Corsair HX1000

Operating System

Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit

Comparison Drives & Other Models We Have Tested

Since there are so many SSDs out there now with different controllers, we started a reference table of which controllers are used by each drive to help you compare results. Different controllers definitely perform differently and each has various strengths and weaknesses. Like CPU’s, even identical drives will have variations in performance and part of that variance may be attributable to the NAND flash used. Since the tests of the drives listed have spanned different test benches and represent different interfaces, we have listed the most recent ones for easy reference.

SSD MODEL CONTROLLER(S) TRIM? Interface
Samsung 840 Series 250GB
S4LN021X01-8030 Yes SATA III
Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB
LAMD LM87800 Yes SATA III
Intel 335 Series 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Strontium Hawk 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Corsair Neutron 240GB
LAMD LM87800 Yes SATA III
ADATA SX900 128GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Crucial V4 256GB
Phison PS3105-S5 Yes SATA II
Kingston SSDNow V200 128GB
Toshiba (JMicron JMF66x) Yes SATA III
Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
SanDisk Extreme SATA 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Mushkin Chronos 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Vertex 4 256GB
Indilinx Evertest 2 Yes SATA III
Vertex 4 512GB
Indilinx Evertest 2 Yes SATA III
Micron P400e 200GB
Marvell 88SS9174 Yes SATA III
Kingston V+200 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
RunCore Pro V 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Intel 520 Series 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Samsung 830 Series 256GB
S4LJ204X01-Y040 Yes SATA III
Corsair Force GT 180GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Corsair Force GT 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Samsung 830 Series 256GB
Samsung S4LJ204X01-Y040 Yes SATA III
OCZ Octane 512GB
Indilinx Everest Yes SATA III
Corsair Force 3 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Super Talent TeraDrive CT3 64GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Kingston HyperX 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Corsair Force GT 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Patriot Pyro 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281)x4 Yes PCI-E
OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
OCZ Agility 3 240GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro 120GB
SandForce SF-2200 (SF-2281) Yes SATA III
Crucial m4/Micron C400 256GB
Marvell 88SS9174 Yes SATA III
Corsair Performance 3 Series 128GB
Marvell 88SS9174 Yes SATA III
Intel 510 Series 250GB
Marvell 88SS9174 Yes SATA III
Plextor M2 Series 128GB
Marvell 88SS9174 Yes SATA III
* TRIM is not supported due to the RAID controller.

CrystalDiskMark 5.0.2 Readout:

For the OCZ Vector 256GB drive, the readout on CrystalDiskInfo 5.0.2 shows that both NCQ and S.M.A.R.T. are enabled, as well as TRIM and the interface is
confirmed at SATA III (6Gbps). This is a great free tool to see lots of detailed information about the drive such as the firmware version for which we are running the latest available at the time of testing (10200000).

CRYSTALDISKINFO

OCZ has their own toolbox for having a look at the detailed drive information, updating firmware and performing secure erase functions. While not as robust as we’ve seen with other companies, it works well and is east to navigate and use. There aren’t many SSD makers who offer such as tool so simply having one is a plus.

OCZ Toolbox Secure Erase

Let’s look at some benchmarks…

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