Introduction and Specifications
Back in April, we ran a pair of OCZ Vertex 4 SSDs (256GB and 512GB) through the benchmark grinder to see what they could do and also told you everything you ever wanted to know about them in the process. Today, we’re testing another brother in the family, the 128GB OCZ Vertex 4
First, though, let’s have a look at the 128GB OCZ Vertex 4’s specs.
OCZ Vertex 4 SSD 128GB
Before the firmware update, the 128GB Vertex 4 was rated for 535MBps/200MBps read/write times, but now OCZ promises 560MBps/430MBps performance; that’s a huge leap forward (more than double) for the SSD’s write performance. The 128GB Vertex 4 also features 90,000/85,000 random 4k read/write IOPS, with a maximum of 120,000 IOPS and a SATA III (6Gbps) interface.
Other features include Ndurance 2.0 technology, which includes Reduced Write Amplification without compression, Advanced Multi-Level ECC, and Adaptive NAND Flash Management, as well as TRIM support to keep the accumulated write clutter to a minimum and subsequently maintain performance.
SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) support helps ensure the drive’s health, an advanced ECC engine running up to 128bits per K protects the data path, and data can be locked down with AES 256-bit encryption and ATA Security Mode features. Finally, putting its money where its mouth is, OCZ offers a 5-year warranty on the Vertex 4 SSD.
OCZ kept the design of the Vertex 4 identical to the earlier versions we saw; it’s 9.5mm thick and has a black plastic/composite top sporting the Vertex 4 and Indilinx logos, while the back has a brushed metal finish and all the detailed product information.
A closer look at the actual PCB reveals the same Indilinx Everest 2 (IDX400M00-BC) controller we saw in the 256GB and 512GB Vertex 4s, which supports up to 8 channels and 16-way Interleaving (and lacks the compression limitations found in the SandForce controllers OCZ previously used in some of its SSDs.)
The actual NAND and DRAM chips are different; the 128GB version of the Vertex 4 has sixteen Intel 25nm 8GB synchronous MLC flash chips (29F64G08ACME2), and eight each are stamped on the top and bottom of the PCB. That happens to be the same NAND that OCZ used in the 128GB Vertex 3 SSDs. This SSD also has 1GB of DRAM courtesy of a pair of Micron.
First, though, let’s have a look at the 128GB OCZ Vertex 4’s specs.
OCZ Vertex 4 SSD 128GB
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Before the firmware update, the 128GB Vertex 4 was rated for 535MBps/200MBps read/write times, but now OCZ promises 560MBps/430MBps performance; that’s a huge leap forward (more than double) for the SSD’s write performance. The 128GB Vertex 4 also features 90,000/85,000 random 4k read/write IOPS, with a maximum of 120,000 IOPS and a SATA III (6Gbps) interface.
Other features include Ndurance 2.0 technology, which includes Reduced Write Amplification without compression, Advanced Multi-Level ECC, and Adaptive NAND Flash Management, as well as TRIM support to keep the accumulated write clutter to a minimum and subsequently maintain performance.
SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) support helps ensure the drive’s health, an advanced ECC engine running up to 128bits per K protects the data path, and data can be locked down with AES 256-bit encryption and ATA Security Mode features. Finally, putting its money where its mouth is, OCZ offers a 5-year warranty on the Vertex 4 SSD.
OCZ kept the design of the Vertex 4 identical to the earlier versions we saw; it’s 9.5mm thick and has a black plastic/composite top sporting the Vertex 4 and Indilinx logos, while the back has a brushed metal finish and all the detailed product information.
A closer look at the actual PCB reveals the same Indilinx Everest 2 (IDX400M00-BC) controller we saw in the 256GB and 512GB Vertex 4s, which supports up to 8 channels and 16-way Interleaving (and lacks the compression limitations found in the SandForce controllers OCZ previously used in some of its SSDs.)
The actual NAND and DRAM chips are different; the 128GB version of the Vertex 4 has sixteen Intel 25nm 8GB synchronous MLC flash chips (29F64G08ACME2), and eight each are stamped on the top and bottom of the PCB. That happens to be the same NAND that OCZ used in the 128GB Vertex 3 SSDs. This SSD also has 1GB of DRAM courtesy of a pair of Micron.