I concur. Right now, the contrast between slow and fast is bordering on ridiculous. http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph4256/36481.png QD 32 http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph4256/36496.png Vertex 3 random write Link: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4256/the-ocz-vertex-3-review-120gb/6

It is recommended trying OCZ Toolbox 2.33, but there is plenty of helpful info available.

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum ... ifications.

Anandtech has completed its C400 review. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4253/the-crucial-m4-micron-c400-ssd-review I'm not sure whether to call the m4 an evolutionary upgrade in performance or a shift in performance. Write speed is faster across the board, but read speed took a definite hit compared ...

There were rumours that the 320 would be officially announced today, March 28. Granted I'm in a different time zone but still, the tech sites seem to have been quiet thus far.

They may not be thrilling, but my X25-Vs have been reliable and I can recommend them as a budget drive. If the market for HDDs is shrinking, it may be because the manufacturers shot themselves in the foot by providing capacities that are probably dozens of times greater than what Joe Average require...

The long-awaited G3 at last. I look forward to the reviews as this is potentially a real game-changer - not because performance is going to break any benchmarks, but because the biggest mainstream concern with SSDs (price/capacity) is going to be tackled head-on. The irony of this is that pricing wi...

There will be 25nm G3 drives in coming months which will push the capacity/price envelope further. Clearly Intel is letting Sandforce have the performance market mostly to itself. Not sure exactly when the new G3 will be arriving as they keep on delaying its launch. The 120GB G2 is a value sweet-spo...

It does indeed provide that information. 2,000 hours later and mine seems to not be even 1% worn out yet.

In other news, after a conspicuous silence from AT:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4202/the- ... 510-review

Micron C400 (Crucial m4) 25nm SSD Update To avoid any concerns over 25nm NAND, several SSD manufacturers are trying to get out ahead of their impending SSD releases with consumer updates on their implementation of 25nm NAND. Micron has updated us with details surrounding their new SATA 6Gb/s C400 SS...

I think the 750GB WD Scorpio uses only 2 platters. The 1 TB uses 3 and has a thicker 12mm (?) form factor, as well as not being the last word in value for money. The big question is how much capacity you need. The default combo these days is something like an SSD plus a 5400 rpm 3.5" drive. Personal...

If I'm reading correct, that second article seems to suggest that the 510 will be launched in place of the G3 (non-SATA 6Gb/s). It would make more sense if the 510 was an X25-E replacement. Either way, at least Intel won't be left in the spec-dust with the G3's 1st-generation-Sandforce levels of per...

I can't comment on the Sandforce drives, but the 100 MB/s write speed was the 160 GB model with the later firmware . I think prior to this it was the same 70 MB/s as the 80 GB. I incorrectly thought both models gained the faster write speed but from that time, the firmware only brought the 160 a spe...

Very impressive. Probably worth adding the recently announced 2.5", 7mm, single-platter 500GB Travelstar also. Claimed 2.1 bels during operation, though energy consumption appears little different to the 750GB 3.5" mentioned above. http://www.storagereview.com/hitachi_travelstar_z5k500_announced_sin...

C400 was announced at CES. Sampling now. Here's the product page to compare vs the C300. Surely this warrants its own thread. :mrgreen: Now to summarise the known data : Anand says: Based on the same architecture as the C300, the C400 is a combination of IMFT 25nm NAND, a slightly tweaked controlle...

You are correct and I did take a shortcut with my words.

However, I don't think smaller = slower is always the case. The 80 and 160 GB Intels are roughly identical in speed, whilst the small Sandforce drives appear the equal of their beefier brethren in the specs stakes.

A little bit of news, the so-called 310 is basically an X25-V in a smaller form factor for tablet PCs etc.

Link: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4078/inte ... orm-factor

The 120 GB would be my choice if buying today also.

Looks like the Vaio uses a regular 2.5" HDD, but I'd pull it out first to make sure it isn't IDE or something..

Welcome to SPCR! Just as a starting point, WD unfortunately doesn't give drive access times for its 3.5" drives, but the 2.5" Scorpio claims 4 seconds, though of course it only comes in capacities up to 1 TB. As for the 3.5s, presumably a 5400rpm drive would be at an advantage compared to 7200. Ten ...

A new 'Micro Center' Sandforce drive has crossed into double-digit pricing territory for a 64 GB.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ ... id=0351760

That is not a major factor if the data is being used for comparative purposes on a level playing field. The only other factor I can think of is brand loyalty; for example if an Intel fanboi refused to write a negative review after receiving a DOA drive, whereas there is less likely to be brand loyal...

Honestly I did not ever actually measure temps, as the drive never missed a beat and I never thought anything of it. I later replaced it with an SSD, and I remember taking the Scorpio out of the foam and I couldn't even touch it with my hands for 15 minutes after unplugging it, it was that hot. It h...

According to Storage Review, it is a 5 platter drive.

http://www.storagereview.com/3tb_hitach ... y_released

Cheers.

Apparently there can be micro data and power plugs, none of which seems to serve any worthwhile purpose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sata#Slimline_connector I recall a lot of people buying X18-Ms for PCs ran into the same issue and were similarly miffed. Normally the industry is pretty good like th...

Either that or my X25-M is so responsive that even though we may have posted at the same time, mine appeared first. :mrgreen: PS, as welcome as the pricing changes are, can anyone think of a comprehensible reason why a 160GB X25-M costs more than 4 individual X25-Vs? Don't give me "not produced in b...

Intel has finally done something interesting, full article on DT and StorageReview . "The 160GB X25-M will now retail for $415, while the 80GB version will retail for $199. In addition, a new 120GB model will be introduced with an MSRP of $249. For those looking for an even cheaper option, the 40GB ...

I used to have mine wrapped in foam. Depending on your capacity needs, a single-platter WD Scorpio is a top drive (I presume a 320 GB would be single platter), with the equivalent Seagates and Samsungs also worthy competitors. In foam mine was extremely quiet, but the drive temperatures seemed to be...

I'm surprised to learn that the WD SiliconEdge Blue is now the king of GB/$, as I recall it was once infamous for being overpriced. Considering it is potentially a very reliable drive and competitive performance-wise , I am going to keep an eye on it. I already have a certain brand loyalty to WD as ...

Based on the current Newegg price, my calculations put the X25-V at closer to $2.375/GB. Still, not the last word in value any more.

Agreed, thanks. I didn't realise unformatted space was treated differently, though it makes sense.

I believe the X25-M's sequential write speed is as much as 3 times the 35 MB/s of the reviewed X25-V. It might have been a better candidate for the test. In any case, the Intel's formidable reputation for robustness would be a very significant factor to any potential buyer, even above performance di...