OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD Review

Today we’ll be looking at the OCZ Vertex 2 120 GB SSD, which will go head-to-head with the Patriot Inferno 100 GB. Will the Vertex 2 be able to extinguish the flaming Inferno? Read on to find out!

Specifications & Features

Straight from OCZ, here are the specifications & features. Take special note of the 4 KB aligned random write IOPS.

Specifications

• Max Read: 285 MB/s
• Max Write: 275 MB/s
• 4 KB Random Write (Aligned): 50,000 IOPS

Key Features

• Implements SandForce 1200 Controller with Max IOPS Firmware
• Cost-effective 34 nm MLC flash with enhanced reliability
• 13% over-provisioning for optimal performance and endurance
• SandForce controller makes MLC flash viable for some enterprise applications
• Improved Small File Random Write IOPS: 50,000 versus 10,000 (4 KB Aligned)
• Bundled with 3.5” mounting bracket for desktops

These specifications are pretty standard for a typical SandForce controlled SSD until you see that 50,000 number. You see, OCZ and SandForce have a nice little deal going. Except for the Corsair SandForce drives (which use a release candidate version of the SandForce firmware), OCZ is the only manufacturer with these kind of small-file random write numbers. They are the only company running the firmware as sanctioned by SandForce (those tidbits come courtesy of Anandtech.)

When the Vertex 2 first came out, it used 28% over-provisioning like the Patriot Inferno we reviewed previously. Since then they have switched to a new firmware with only 13% overprovisioning, giving you more space for the same total MLC flash area. For more detail on that, check out this Anandtech article.

With specifications like that, it should beat out the Inferno on the write side of things for sure.

The Drive

It’s certainly a well packaged drive. Encased in protective foam inside what looks like a little SSD book, it will survive the trip no problem.

As the feature list tells us, the drive ships with a 3.5″ adapter. These are pretty standard with only the logo changing between the Patriot & OCZ drives.

The drive is finished in matt black with a silver and black sticker featuring some white text. Definitely understated, but elegant in its own way. The bottom-mount screws on SSDs are great for modders who want to make their own panel to show off their drives.

After voiding the warranty, we can see the internals of the drive. It uses MLC flash with a SandForce SF-1222 controller.

Inside and out, the Vertex 2 certainly looks good. Let’s get it into our test bed and see what it’s made of!

Test System & Methodology

Since I first put the Inferno to the test, I’ve learned a lot about testing SSDs. To keep everything on an even keel I’ve come up with what I think are a decent set of best practices to follow throughout testing these devices in the future. As this is a new methodology I had to test the Inferno again, so you’ll notice some numbers differ from the prior article; this is all in the effort to present as fair a comparison as possible. The method I now follow:

• First off, AS Cleaner is horrible and does not do what it says it does. There was (and currently is) no known manual TRIM program for the SandForce-based drives, that one included.
• In order to ensure the drive is absolutely clear, you need to give it a complete secure erase. The method I used appears to have disappeared from its server, but you can see the cached version here. All you need is a little common sense and a Linux LiveCD. I used Ubuntu 10.04 because I had a copy laying around.
• The rest of the methodology is simple –
  • Boot up into Ubuntu & securely erase the drive.
  • Restart into Windows.
  • Run benchmark (sometimes formatting it first is necessary, depending on the bench).
  • Restart into Ubuntu & securely erase the drive.
  • Repeat ad nauseam.

Test System

Benchmarks

AS SSD

AS SSD is one of the most consistent click-it-and-forget it SSD benchmarks. Regularly they are within one or two points of each other with multiple runs.

AS SSD Benchmark (Read Tests)

AS SSD Benchmark (Write Tests)

AS SSD Benchmark Score

Looks like the Inferno comes out slightly ahead when reading, but the Vertex 2 beats it when writing, giving the overall score to the Vertex 2.

CrystalDiskMark

There are three ways to test with Crystal Disk Mark. The first is by having the test throw random data at the drive. This is a bit tougher on the drives than the other options, which are to write simply all ones or all zeros.

CrystalDiskMark x64 (Random Data – Read Tests)

CrystalDiskMark x64 (Random Data – Write Tests)

The Vertex 2 continues to show its write strength. This firmware definitely helps out a ton in that regard. It’s also good enough to keep on the Inferno’s heels when reading but not quite enough to surpass it.

CrystalDiskMark x64 (0Fill – Read Tests)

CrystalDiskMark x64 (0Fill – Write Tests)

CrystalDiskMark x64 (1Fill – Read Tests)

CrystalDiskMark x64 (1Fill – Write Tests)

I think we can all see a pattern developing here. Reads: Inferno, Writes: Vertex 2. What you’ll notice is the huge disparity in the 4K QD32 tests with OCZ delivering an impressive performance every time.

ATTO Disk Benchmark

ATTO is an oldie but a goody, but with the ability to increase its queue depth to 10 it’s still a viable test for SSDs. These drives prefer a queue depth of up to 32, but we take what we can get.

Same story, different bench, at least with 4 K writes. The Inferno puts up some stout numbers here and beats the Vertex 2 in most other categories. The difference isn’t much but is definitely evident in ATTO.

Iometer

The gold standard of SSD testing, Iometer takes a bit more finesse to run. In learning about benching SSDs between my first SSD review and this one, I’ve found the most important aspect of all is setting the number of threads.

Previously (even in the Inferno re-bench), the threads were left at default, meaning the drive was only being benched with one. Now that I’m a little older and a bit wiser, now they are benched at 32. Thus, the numbers below for the Inferno differ from both previous articles.

Iometer 4K Random Read

Iometer 4K Random Write

Ahh, so the Vertex 2 can read faster, it just needs the right bench. Writes show an astonishing 4x increase in IOPS thanks to the firmware. All that write ability does take a toll on CPU utilization, but hardly anything to be concerned about.

Iometer 2MB Sequential Read

Iometer 2MB Sequential Write

The 2 MB Sequential performance is entirely too close to call. They’re both Sandforce-based drives with MLC NAND flash and they both read and write 2MB almost identically.

Boot Time

Finally, there is this fun little application called Boot Timer. It’s easy as can be; you double-click on it and it restarts your computer while timing how long it takes for the OS to boot and startup programs to load. On the left is the Inferno and on the right is the Vertex 2.

Just barely, by less than a second (0.828 seconds to be precise), the Vertex 2 comes out ahead.

Final Thoughts & Conclusion

Straight down to the nitty gritty, here are all the benchmarks complied into read & write graphs:

Read Tests

Write Tests

OCZ’s Vertex 2 is a very solid SandForce-based drive, made even stronger by its proprietary firmware. That arrangement appears to be very kind to OCZ.

The Vertex 2 120G currently sells for $229.99 with free shipping. The Patriot Inferno 120G is selling for $249.99, but with a mail in rebate (and we all know how fun those can be) that is reduced to $214.99 (though no free shipping).

With read speeds that just barely fall behind the Inferno but write speeds that absolutely decimate it with the ever important 4KB metric, the Vertex 2 gets my vote. Paying $15 for roughly an extra 30,000 4K write IOPS is certainly worth every penny. If you consider the retail prices, the choice is a no-brainer – OCZ all the way.

–Jeremy Vaughan (hokiealumnus)