OCZ Vector 180 480GB SSD review

Review Pages

1. About the OCZ Vector 180 series
2. Package, software
3. HDTachRW, ATTO Disk Benchmark
4. CrystalDiskMark
5. AS SSD benchmark
6. IOMeter
7. Anvil Pro
8. PCMark 7, PCMark 8
9. Final words

We have in our labs the OCZ's latest flagship client drive, known as the Vector 180. The drive basic feature is a power loss protection technology called 'Power Failure Management Plus', or PFM+. Although it is not the same feature met in the company's enterprise SSDs, PFM+ is limited to offering protection for data that has already been written to the NAND. This means that all user data that still sits in the DRAM buffer waiting to be written will be lost in the event of a sudden power loss.

Aside from PFM+, the other new thing OCZ is bringing to the market with the Vector 180 is a 960GB model. The higher capacity is enabled by the use of Toshiba's 128Gbit NAND, whereas in the past OCZ has only used a 64Gbit die in its products.

The Vector 180 is using the faster version of the Barefoot 3 controller, the M00 bin, which runs at 397MHz. And of course, the drive uses
Toshiba's latest A19nm MLC.

Here are the specs:

PERFORMANCE	120GB	240GB	480GB	960GB
Sequential Read Speed	550 MB/s	550 MB/s	550 MB/s	550 MB/s
Sequential Write Speed	450 MB/s	530 MB/s	530 MB/s	530 MB/s
Random Read Speed (4KB, QD32)	85,000 IOPS	95,000 IOPS	100,000 IOPS	100,000 IOPS
Random Write Speed (4KB, QD32)	90,000 IOPS	90,000 IOPS	95,000 IOPS	95,000 IOPS
Steady State Random Write (4KB QD32)	12,000 IOPS	20,000 IOPS	23,000 IOPS	20,000 IOPS

PHYSICAL
Usable Capacities (IDEMA)	120GB, 240GB, 480GB, 960GB
NAND Components	Toshiba A9nm Multi-Level Cell (MLC)
NAND Controller	OCZ Barefoot 3 M00
Interface	Serial ATA (SATA) 6Gb/s (SATA III)
Form Factor	2.5 inch, 7mm height (fits ultra-thin notebooks)
Dimension (L x W x H)	99.7 x 69.75 x 7mm
Drive Weight	115g

ENVIRONMENTAL
Power Consumption	Idle: 0.85W, Active: 3.7W
Operating Temperature	0°C ~ 70°C
Storage Temperature	-45°C ~ 85°C
Shock Resistance	1000G/0.5ms
Vibration (Operational)	2.17Grms (7-800Hz)
Vibration (Non-operational)	3.13Grms (5-800Hz)
Altitude (Operational)	-,1000 ft. to 10,000 ft.
Altitude (Non-operational)	-,1000 ft. to 40,000 ft.
Certifications	UL C/US, FCC, CE, C-Tick, KCC, BSMI, VCCI, WEEE

RELIABILITY / SECURITY
MTBF	2.3 million hours
Data Path Protection	BCH ECC corrects up to 44 random bits/KB
Encryption	256-bit AES-compliant
Product Health Monitoring	Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) Support
Endurance	Rated for 50GB/day of host writes for 5 years under typical client workloads
Additional Reliability Protection	Power Failure Management Plus (PFM+) helps prevent ‘brick drive syndrome’ that can occur during sudden power losses

COMPATIBILITY
Serial ATA (SATA)	Fully compliant with Serial ATA International Organization: Serial ATA Revision 3.2. Fully compliant with ATA/ATAPI-8 Standard Native Command Queuing (NCQ)
Operating System	Windows / Linux / Mac OSX
Power Requirements	Standard SATA Power Connector
Targeted Applications	Client workstations and laptops

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Performance Optimization	TRIM (requires OS support), Idle Time Garbage Collection
Service & Support	5-Year ShieldPlus Warranty, Toll-Free Tech Support, 24 Hour Forum Support, Firmware Updates
Included Software	Acronis True Image HD cloning software registration key (current version compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8)
Included Accessories	A 3.5” SSD desktop adapter bracket