Following the recent controversy surrounding benchmarks of SSDs using JMicron’s JMF602 controller, which showed stuttering and pausing in some random write tests, OCZ has reportedly decided to use an Indilinx Barefoot controller in its new line of Vertex SSDs.
DailyTech reports that the Vertex drives, which were initially announced in December 2008 but have since faced delays due to firmware issues, will feature a version of the Barefoot controller and could be shipping as soon as next week.
Indilinx is a fabless Korean semiconductor company that specialises in SSD controllers, and it announced the S-ATA 2.0 Barefoot controller back in August 2008. The 90nm controller boasts some impressive specifications, not least a 170MB/sec write speed and 230MB/sec read speed when paired with SLC (single-level cell) NAND flash, and these speeds only drop to 160MB/sec and 200MB/sec respectively when using MLC (multi-level cell) flash memory.
Like the aforementioned JMicron JMF602 controller, the Barefoot can also control NAND memory made by a variety of manufacturers, including Intel/Micron Samsung, Hynix and Toshiba, which allows SSD makers to keep their options open. The controller can also address four channels simultaneously, although it’s worth noting that the Intel controller in Intel’s X25-M SSD can address ten channels at once.
A number of capacities of the Vertex drives will be available, covering 30GB, 60GB, 120GB and 250GB bases, with the latter two drives getting 64MB of cache, and the lower capacities getting 32MB. However, according to DailyTech, the 120GB and 250GB models will now ‘exhibit faster speeds due to the fact that the controller has access to a greater number of channels, providing a significant boost to read and write speeds over what was previously announced.’ The site also claims that OCZ will now release the Vertex drives at lower prices than those previously announced.
The range of OCZ Vertex drives is currently available for pre-order from Novatech, with stock expected on 20 February . A 30GB drive is currently priced at £114.41, while a 250GB drive will set you back a terrifying sum of £730.65, although these prices may drop of DailyTech’s claims are true.
Are you considering upgrading to an SSD in the future, or is the cost too prohibitive at the moment? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
DailyTech reports that the Vertex drives, which were initially announced in December 2008 but have since faced delays due to firmware issues, will feature a version of the Barefoot controller and could be shipping as soon as next week.
Indilinx is a fabless Korean semiconductor company that specialises in SSD controllers, and it announced the S-ATA 2.0 Barefoot controller back in August 2008. The 90nm controller boasts some impressive specifications, not least a 170MB/sec write speed and 230MB/sec read speed when paired with SLC (single-level cell) NAND flash, and these speeds only drop to 160MB/sec and 200MB/sec respectively when using MLC (multi-level cell) flash memory.
Like the aforementioned JMicron JMF602 controller, the Barefoot can also control NAND memory made by a variety of manufacturers, including Intel/Micron Samsung, Hynix and Toshiba, which allows SSD makers to keep their options open. The controller can also address four channels simultaneously, although it’s worth noting that the Intel controller in Intel’s X25-M SSD can address ten channels at once.
A number of capacities of the Vertex drives will be available, covering 30GB, 60GB, 120GB and 250GB bases, with the latter two drives getting 64MB of cache, and the lower capacities getting 32MB. However, according to DailyTech, the 120GB and 250GB models will now ‘exhibit faster speeds due to the fact that the controller has access to a greater number of channels, providing a significant boost to read and write speeds over what was previously announced.’ The site also claims that OCZ will now release the Vertex drives at lower prices than those previously announced.
The range of OCZ Vertex drives is currently available for pre-order from Novatech, with stock expected on 20 February . A 30GB drive is currently priced at £114.41, while a 250GB drive will set you back a terrifying sum of £730.65, although these prices may drop of DailyTech’s claims are true.
Are you considering upgrading to an SSD in the future, or is the cost too prohibitive at the moment? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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