OCZ Storage Solutions today released of the next generation Vector 180 SSD series along with the new SSD Guru storage management solution. Compared to the previous Vector 180 series, the latest one adds a reliability protection feature called Power Failure Management Plus (PFM+) and a 960GB capacity. Other than that, it is ultimately the same Barefoot 3 that we have seen numerous times already, and it's a natural transition to more cost effective Toshiba's A19nm NAND.

In the event of unexpected system power loss or instability, the PFM+ feature helps safeguard the SSD and its at-rest data.

The Vector 180 series features bandwidth speeds up to 550 MB/s and I/O performance up to 100,000 IOPS.

The new SSD is also protected by OCZ's ShieldPlus Warranty. This approach to service provides peace of mind as it eliminates all the hassle and cost surrounding traditional support and warranty claims consumers often have to deal with.

Vector 180 SSDs will be available in 120 GB, 240 GB, 480 GB, and the new 960 GB model. The higher capacity is enabled by the use of 128Gbit NAND, whereas in the past OCZ has only used a 64Gbit die in its products. Each Vector 180 is bundled with worth of accessories including Acronis True Image drive cloning software and a 3.5-inch desktop adaptor for easy upgrading.

In addition to the new Vector 180 series, OCZ is making the new SSD Guru software available for all end users to download on ocz.com. SSD Guru provides control of maintenance, monitoring, SSD tuning, OS optimization and more via a user-friendly GUI (Graphical User Interface). Integrated modules include an overview dashboard, SSD Tuner, and OS Tuner where users can optimize and increase their drive's performance. Support is also easier than ever with background firmware update notifications, direct links to OCZ support, and a feature called Save Support Package (SSP) which allows the user to save a file containing all the relevant information and share with OCZ technical support staff for faster troubleshooting. Though launching with the Vector 180 series, SSD Guru will be available for all OCZ Barefoot 3 based SATA drives as well as the PCI Express RevoDrive 350. The software is available as both Windows and Linux installers as well as a separate bootable tool for Mac users.

Since the Vector 180 is OCZ's flagship, it's also priced accordingly. The MSRPs are very close to what the 850 Pro and Extreme Pro currently retail for and it's clear that OCZ is considering the two as direct competitors to the Vector 180.

However, some early reviews indicate that the 850 Pro is faster, more durable and has longer warranty and better hardware encryption support (Opal & eDrive), but we'll have to wait for our review in order to come up with a safer conclusion.