With the release of the OCZ ARC 100 SSD series, Toshiba/OCZ tried to design an for mainstream consumers looking for a value-oriented SSD.

The drive uses a SATA 6Gb/s interface, the OCZ Barefoot 3 M10SS9189 controller, and features Toshiba’s A19nm MLC Flash. Its ultra slim 2.5-inch, 7mm form factor allows it to fit in virtually any type of device.

The Barefoot 3 platform proved to provide performance consistency, but the performance is not the highest you can experience from an SSD. However, the drive will perform decently in 4K and 2MB transfer benchmarks, but it was very improved in read/write-intensive tests.

The drive performed adequately in synthetic workloads.

We should also note the lack of support for lower power states and TCG Opal.

When the OCZ Arc 100 hit the market sometime last September, its price was very competitive, especially in its larger capacities. Currently, the 240GB version of the Arc 100 SSD retails online for $100, with other drives such as the faster Crucial MX100 to be available for $105, the Sandisk Ultra II and the Samsung EVO850 to follow with $110. With the new Crucial BX100 ($95) added to the mix, it is obvious that the OCZ Arc is facing a very stiff competition.

Since the mainstream market is all about price, the ARC 100 could be a bit more affordable in order to compete.

The ARC 100 is a compelling alternative for desktop users. OCZ is offering the drive with a 3-year warranty. But you also get the benefits of the ShieldPlus Warranty. In case an RMA is required, OCZ will just send you a new drive. You get your drive, a box, and a prepaid label to send your defective drive. The process is fast and easy, reducing the downtime and inconvenience of your system. Definitely an advantage for OCZ's SSDs.