Conclusion; Mission, Accomplished
Despite a few delays OCZ’s new Vector 180 series is finally being launched and the wait was certainly worth it. While we have seen a number of competing launches, the 180 has shown that with the right combination of advanced NAND and an entrenched controller technology, it’s possible to offer enthusiast-level performance at an affordable price.
Naturally, OCZ’s Barefoot M00 controller is at the heart of this winning formula. While it indeed may be old by solid state drive standards, this controller is still one of the best available. There are a few that can exceed its performance and capacity scaling abilities but those models are invariably more expensive. Pair it up with refined firmware and performance throughput is really something to behold.
When compared against its direct competitors like the Crucial MX200, the Vector 180’s wins more than it loses. Its raw synthetic and real world benchmark numbers are higher, performance retention as the drives full up is better and it’s backed by an iron-clad 5-year warranty. Most importantly, unlike so many other SSDs these days, its overall performance metrics remain consistent regardless of capacity so if you buy a lower-priced 180 there’s no need to worry about slower load times. The only area where things fall slightly behind is hypothetical NAND endurance.
With that being said the competitive landscape will surely change this year as the SSD marketplace is in transition and we’ll surely see some upheaval as SATA Express and NVMe-based drives are launched. The upcoming Jet Express SSDs are literally right around the corner and they’re likely why OCZ took a more affordable path with this series rather than go all-out with high end pricing.
What we have to focus on is there here and now rather than what may be available in the future. So as Emperor Marcus Aurelius said in his work 'Meditations', "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.” With that in mind we consider the Vector 180 to be an excellent, well priced drive and have little qualms over wholeheartedly recommending it. If in six months Jet Express or other NVMe drives do indeed hit the <i>home user</i> marketplace, they’ll likely be marketed as flagship SSDs and be priced accordingly high. Until then this drive is fast, efficient and provides a perfect counterpoint to some of the competition’s drives. What more could anyone ask from their next storage purchase?
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<img src="http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image/akg/Storage/Vector180/DGV.gif" border="0" alt="" /> <img src="http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image/akg/Storage/Vector180/dam_good.jpg" border="0" alt="" />
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Conclusion; Mission, Accomplished
Despite a few delays OCZ’s new Vector 180 series is finally being launched and the wait was certainly worth it. While we have seen a number of competing launches, the 180 has shown that with the right combination of advanced NAND and an entrenched controller technology, it’s possible to offer enthusiast-level performance at an affordable price.
Naturally, OCZ’s Barefoot M00 controller is at the heart of this winning formula. While it indeed may be old by solid state drive standards, this controller is still one of the best available. There are a few that can exceed its performance and capacity scaling abilities but those models are invariably more expensive. Pair it up with refined firmware and performance throughput is really something to behold.
When compared against its direct competitors like the Crucial MX200, the Vector 180’s wins more than it loses. Its raw synthetic and real world benchmark numbers are higher, performance retention as the drives full up is better and it’s backed by an iron-clad 5-year warranty. Most importantly, unlike so many other SSDs these days, its overall performance metrics remain consistent regardless of capacity so if you buy a lower-priced 180 there’s no need to worry about slower load times. The only area where things fall slightly behind is hypothetical NAND endurance.
With that being said the competitive landscape will surely change this year as the SSD marketplace is in transition and we’ll surely see some upheaval as SATA Express and NVMe-based drives are launched. The upcoming Jet Express SSDs are literally right around the corner and they’re likely why OCZ took a more affordable path with this series rather than go all-out with high end pricing.
What we have to focus on is there here and now rather than what may be available in the future. So as Emperor Marcus Aurelius said in his work 'Meditations', "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.” With that in mind we consider the Vector 180 to be an excellent, well priced drive and have little qualms over wholeheartedly recommending it. If in six months Jet Express or other NVMe drives do indeed hit the <i>home user</i> marketplace, they’ll likely be marketed as flagship SSDs and be priced accordingly high. Until then this drive is fast, efficient and provides a perfect counterpoint to some of the competition’s drives. What more could anyone ask from their next storage purchase?
<div align="center">
<img src="http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image/akg/Storage/Vector180/DGV.gif" border="0" alt="" /> <img src="http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/image/akg/Storage/Vector180/dam_good.jpg" border="0" alt="" />
</div>
