OCZ Vector 256GB SSD

2. The package

Review Pages

1. Features, specs
2. The package
3. HDTachRW
4. ATTO Disk Benchmark
5. CrystalDiskMark
6. AS SSD benchmark
7. IOMeter benchmark
8. Anvil Pro SSD Benchmark
9. PCMark 7 Professional
10. Summary

The Vector 256GB retail package is shown below:

The package includes the OCZ Vector SSD, a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch converter bracket, fixing screws, the quick start booklet and finally a serial key for Acronis True Image HD cloning software.

The drive itself has a a brand new 7mm chassis. The aluminum colored enclosure features a new label:

The bottom of the SSD looks familiar as the name, part number and other details are laid out in traditional OCZ fashion:

Under the hood the drive is all new. Vector uses the first home-grown SSD controller by OCZ. It is true that both the OCZ Octane and Vertex 4 SSDs used OCZ Indilinx branded silicon, but those were based on Marvell IP. Vector on the other hand uses OCZ's brand new Barefoot 3 controller, designed entirely in-house.

Below you see eight 25nm IMFT synchronous 2-bit-per-cell MLC NAND positioned on the PCB, along with the new Indilinx BareFoot 3 SSD controller, DDR3 cache memory, and various support components.

The controller integrates an ARM Cortex core as well as an OCZ co-processor. Architecturally, Barefoot 3 can talk to NAND across 8 parallel channels. The controller is paired with two DDR3L-1600 DRAMs.