OCZ Vertex 4 256GB Review

OCZ Vertex 4 256GB Review

OCZ's Vertex series of SSDs first arrived on store shelves with the Indilinx Barefoot controller inside and now the newest generation of the Vertex family returns home to the Indilinx Everest 2 controller. Granted, this probably has more to do with the fact that OCZ acquired Indilinx rather than any potential superiority of the controller chip, but it's worth mentioning.

The reason we're spending so much time talking about the controller here is that it's one of the bigger points of differentiation with this drive. The Everest 2 (IDX400M00-BC) is based on a Marvell controller with significant firmware changes by Indilinx. Unlike SSDs that use SandForce controllers, the Everst 2 leverages on-board cache memory for speed. The controller uses the cache to pre-fetch requests from the NAND into the DRAM, which in theory allows reads to complete as fast as the drives interface will allow. In less technical language this means the Vertez 4 should deliver more consistent performance regardless of the type of data it's reading and writing.

This version of the Vertex 4 is packed with 16 Intel 25nm MLC synchronous NAND flash chips each with 16GB of storage bringing the total to 256GB.

The specifications for the OCZ Vertex 4 256GB are as follows:

• Model: VTX4-25SAT3-256G
• Form Factor: 2.5" (9.3mm thickness)
• Capacity: 256GB
• Memory Type: MLC
• Interface: SATA III
• Controller: Indilinx Everest 2
• Weight: 101g
• Advertised Max Sequential Read: Up to 560 MB/s
• Advertised Max Sequential Write: Up to 510 MB/s
• Advertised 4KB Random Read: Up to 90,000 IOPS
• Advertised 4KB Random Write: Up to 85,000 IOPS
• MTBF: 2,000,000 hours
• MSRP: $300
• Average Retail Price: $210

Continue lendo

Report Claims Microsoft Limiting Release of Windows RT to OEMs

Microsoft is tightly limiting the release of Windows RT to OEMs during the initial launch period and then will lift the restrictions in January, according to an unconfirmed report by the China Economic Times.

The Times says that Microsoft has enforced partnerships between ARM chipset vendors and OEMs: NVIDIA is teaming with Lenovo and Asus, Texas Instruments is partnering with Toshiba, and Qualcomm picked both Samsung and Dell.

Initially Qualcomm is said to have picked HP for its OEM partner, but with HP going to x86 for its first Windows tablet Qualcomm is bringing in Dell instead.

Microsoft’s rationale in strictly controlling which OEMs have access to Windows RT is to prevent the market from being flooded with low quality Windows RT tablets.

Reportedly HTC has been barred from manufacturing Windows RT tablets, as Hardware Canucks reported in June.

As Windows RT tablets are likely going to be the theme of January’s Consumer Electronics Show, more details are expected closer to then.

Continue lendo