discussion OCZ Vector 150 240GB SSD Review

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SATA 2 Performance

SATA 2 Performance

In a perfect world everyone investing in a new solid state drive would have access to a SATA 6GB/s controller which could pass on the TRIM command. In reality not everyone has this and for many the decision comes down either giving up TRIM – never a good idea with most controllers – and running it off a secondary controller; or taking a performance hit and running in SATA 2.0 mode.

These tests will consist of some of our real world and synthetic benchmarks run on our standard 1155 test-bed; but the drive will be attached to an SATA 2 port.

For synthetic we have opted for the newcomer to our charts: Anvil Storage Utilities Pro. For real world we have opted for our Adobe test. These two tests should give you a very good idea of the level of performance impact you can expect from running a modern SATA 6 drive in compatibility mode.

 

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Conclusion

Conclusion

OCZ has been though its fair share of trials and tribulations lately but the Vector series has proven to be a ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak outlook. The original Vector wowed us with its consistent performance, excellent staying power and a competitive streak which put it on par or above some of the market’s best SSDs. The Vector 150 one-ups this equation and by doing so, becomes one of the most desirable SSDs currently available.

One of the main challenges facing storage manufacturers is differentiation. Many have gone down the rebranding route in an effort to save on those oh-so-expensive development costs simply because they don’t have the massive R&D budgets of the Intels, Samsungs and Microns of this world. OCZ on the other hand has effectively leveraged their purchase of Indilinx by utilizing the Barefoot 3 controller and its underlying architecture to maximum potential. The end result is not only short-term benefits but, unlike so many other drives, the Vector 150 retains its high performance quotient over the long term, even when the drive is nearly filled to capacity. To find a controller that can actually match these capabilities, you need to turn to the enterprise market and the Intel DC S3x00 series of drives. Consistency counts and the Vector 150 has it in spades.

Due to its wide array of features and a great track record for reliability the Vector 150 seems to be built as a type of hybrid cross-over drive that can equally serve both desktop, mass-market enthusiasts and entry-level workstation users. As such it has been built with higher standards and includes more factor-level testing than a typical consumer-grade drive. So the Vector 150 240GB may be missing Flush In Flight abilities, but it nonetheless receives high marks in the longevity category provided nothing unforeseen happens.

Unfortunately, it is the questions surrounding OCZ as a company which may cause potential customers to shy away from this otherwise excellent drive. We typically avoid talking about a company’s financials in these reviews but when it could potentially affect the end-user’s long-terms experience, it needs to be taken into account. Look no further than the ill-fated BFG, Hiper DFI, Chaintech, Elsa and countless others for proof of that. Regardless of who you listen to, OCZ’s latest financial call painted a dire picture with their consumer-oriented business arms suffering massive negative cash flow. The stock subsequently took a 30% dive and now risks being delisted from NASDAQ. Those points are just the tip of OCZ’s troubles so we can understand why some may choose to look elsewhere for an SSD that can offer more peace of mind.

The Vector 150 is one the best SSDs currently available. It offers an envious blend of longevity and long-term performance without the obscene markups normally seen from other drives in its class. This really is a near-perfect blend in a market categorized by clones and rebrands. However, some serious questions about OCZ’s future may impede the Vector 150 from being the sales success it should be.