Review: ocz vertex 4

Following the launch of the OCZ Vertex 4 in April and various firmware updates, OCZ has sent us to test the 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 in our lab. A solid state drive with its own Indilinx Everest 2 controller and excellent read and write speeds.

Product ceded by:

OCZ VERTEX 4 256GB FEATURES
Model	VTX4-25SAT3-256G
Storage capacity	256GB * Available in 64GB, 128GB and 512GB.
Readings and writings	Sequential Read: 550 ~ 560MB / s Sequential Write: 465 ~ 510MB / s 4K Random IOPS Read - 90, 000 IOPS Random Write IOPS 4k - 85, 000 IOPS Maximum IOPS - 120, 000 IOPS
Physical	The usable capacities (IDEMA) 256GB 2Xnm Synchronous Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND Components SATA III / 6 Gbps interface (SATA II / 3 Gbps compatible) 2.5 inch form factor Indilinx Everest 2 NAND Memory Controller DRAM cache Up to 1 GB Dimensions (L x W x H) 99.8 x 69.63 x 9.3mm
Reliability / Protection	MTBF 2 million hours ECC Data Protection Path corrects up to 128 bits / 1KB random 256-bit AES-compliant AES data encryption and mode security features Health Monitoring Product Self Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting (SMART) Technology Support
Environmental	Power Consumption Idle: 1.3W Active: 2.5W Operating temperature 0 ° C ~ 70 ° C Ambient temperature 0 ° C ~ 55 ° C Storage temperature -45 ° C ~ 85 ° C Shock resistance 1500G
Compatibility	Serial ATA (SATA) Fully compatible with Serial ATA International Organization:. Serial ATA Revision 3.0. Fully compliant with ATA / ATAPI-8 standard Native Command Queuing (NCQ). Windows XP 32-bit / 64-bit operating system, Windows Vista 32-bit / 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit / 64-bit, Linux, Mac OS X
Additional characteristics	TRIM performance optimization (requires operating system support), static and dynamic wear leveling, background garbage collection, Indilinx Technology Ndurance 2.0 to extend SSD life Other performance features Ndurance 2.0 Technology (Reduced Write Amplification, No Compression, Advanced Multi-Level ECC, Adaptive Flash NAND Management)
Warranty	5 years.

Available models:

Disc information	Part number	CPU
64 GB	VTX4-25SAT3-64G	842024030348
128 GB	VTX4-25SAT3-128G	842024030355
256 GB	VTX4-25SAT3-256G	842024030362
512 GB	VTX4-25SAT3-512G	842024030379
512 GB (M)	VTX4-25SAT3-512G.M	842024031567

OCZ presents the product in a very compact little cardboard box. On the cover is the photograph of the disc, the most important specifications and the capacity of the disc, in this case it is 256GB.

At the back comes a little introduction.

The bundle is made up of:

• Vertex 4 256GB SSD disk 2.5 to 3.5 adapter. Screws. Sticker and small guide.

This accessory not all brands incorporate it, and it is very useful for when we want to install it on the site of a hard disk. The OCZ logo is printed on the base.

The design of the Vertex 4 reminds us of the Vertex 2, black and silver gray predominate.

Aesthetically it is very elegant. Although the SSD is the least seen component inside PC next to the hard disk.

Back view.

It warns us that we should neither open the disk nor hit it since it would lose the guarantee. In addition to the PartNumber the serial number of the disc.

Its connection is SATA 6.0 Gb / s that will offer us the maximum speed.

OCZ provides via web, click to download.

The first screen we must select the SSD that we want to manage.

All options have already been activated. The second option (Tools) allows us to update the firmware. Remember that if we update firmware we may lose data, although under normal conditions we should not worry. As always, I recommend cloning an external disk before updating.

The third option is Security. In this case it allows us to erase the disk completely and leave it at 0 at the factory. We never have to format it, we must always use this option.

And the last option is details that generate informative.Txt file.

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel 3570K
Base plate:	Asus Maximuis IV Extreme
Memory:	2x16GB Kingston Hyperx Predator 2133mhz.
Heatsink	Corsair H60
HDD	OCZ Vertex 4.
Graphic card	Nvidia GTX680
Power supply	Thermaltake TouchPower 1350W

To check the performance of the SSD, we have used the following synthetic test programs: HD Tune, Atto Bench and Crsytal Disk Mark . With them we will measure the reading speed, access time, random access…

Note: In all tests the SSD at all times acts as the main disk with the OS and has 22% of the disk occupied.

HD TUNE:

Crystal Disk Mark:

And finally the Atto Bench:

1 8.2GB file

• From 2nd hard drive to SSD: 46 seconds. From SSD to external hard drive: 44 seconds.

1, 748 files, 304 11.2GB folders:

• From 2nd hard drive to SSD: 1 minute and 24 seconds. From SSD to 2nd hard drive: 1 minute and 20 seconds.

During all these years, the big bottleneck in the computer has been hard drives. The most novice will ask what is an SSD? It is a disc that instead of carrying moving parts and a high consumption (traditional hard disk), are designed with memory pieces that read and write information, have a minimum consumption, a breakneck speed and have managed to make the bottleneck disappear.

There are several brands on the market that make a difference when buying an SSD, and OCZ is one of them. Its Vertex 4 solid state drive is designed to deliver excellent 550 read rates between 560MB / s and sequential write: 465 and 510MB / s. Also its responsiveness to the system is a great advantage.

In our test bench we have verified its performance with the best synthetic tests and real tests, which is what matters most to the final consumer. The performance is really good and very interesting when it comes to choosing. We also have to take into account that its Indilinx Everest 2 controller, which we see a great future, and its innovative Ndurance 2.0 technology.

Finally we have to talk about the 5 year warranty, it is the first manufacturer to offer so many years for an SSD. The prices that we can find in online stores this summer are: 64GB 79 €, 128GB 99.95, 256GB 200 € and 512GB 399 €.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ VERY COMPLETE BUNDLE.	- NONE.
+ INDILINX EVEREST 2 CONTROLLER.
+ NDURANCE 2.0 TECHNOLOGY.
+ ATTRACTIVE PRICES.
+ PERFORMANCE.
+ 5 YEARS OF GUARANTEES.

The Professional Review team awards him the gold medal: