Patriot Warp v3 - 256 GB SSD - Worlds first review

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03-19-2009, 04:19 PM
Mads321

Patriot Warp v3 - 256 GB SSD - Worlds first review

Hi there.

We were fortunate enough to be the first world wide to test Patriots new performance 256 GB SSD.

Quote:

Depending on the test, we've not only reached the specified limits of 240 MB/s read speed (250 MB/s is the maximum that SATA can handle) and 160 MB/s write speed - we've surpassed them. The disk doesn't seem to care if it is filled to its rims with data, and in some cases it even improved its performance. Almost regardless of which system you're upgrading from, a disk like this will give you one of those very rare "wow" experiences, that the hardware-industry only rarely offers. To put it simply, the difference is so immensely huge that it is a must to try it, and besides that, there's another huge advantage: no noise! no squeeking or crunching at all!

As this will be the first real SSD review on my personal behalf, I'm sure I have something either missing or mayby even wrong (yikes), but I hope you can at least appriciate the benchmarks done, as the numbers should speak for themselves ;)

EDIT: our server has gone down..

Meanwhile, here's a little recap of some of the benchmarks:

256 GB Warp v3 - Clean disk
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/atto_big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/tune..._big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/tune_read_big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/CD_mark_big_thumb.jpg

64 GB Warp v2 - Clean disk
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/atto1_big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/tune..._big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/tune..._big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/CD_mark1_big_thumb.jpg

256 GB Warp v3 - Windows Vista 64-bit + benchmark apps. installed
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/pcma..._big_thumb.jpg
11668 points. Larger image here: http://peecee.dk/upload/view/161111/full

http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/atto2_big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/tune..._big_thumb.jpg
http://peecee.dk/uploads/032009/CD_mark2_big_thumb.jpg

Link: http://hwt.dk/literaturedetails.aspx?LiteratureID=13120
03-19-2009, 04:46 PM
naokaji

Another new SSD and yet again the small file write speed problem is not resolved, well, atleast the Warp v3 is relatively cheap at a whopping 80£ less than the apex.
03-19-2009, 04:50 PM
Soulburner

To be fair though, small file writes have always been the weak point of all disk drives, they just really seem to crawl on flash memory.
03-19-2009, 04:58 PM
Helmore

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulburner

To be fair though, small file writes have always been the weak point of all disk drives, they just really seem to crawl on flash memory.

Not on all SSDs though, just check the random write test over here (the third graph).

I only skimmed through the review, just to see if I could find what controller is used on this SSD. Maybe I missed it, but could you tell me what controller is used in this drive?
03-19-2009, 05:03 PM
lowfat

I don't see anywhere in the review that says what controller it is using. And the pictures are too small to see as well. However I assume it is just the dual jmicron ones. Like the G.Skill Titan and the OCZ Apex. Neither of which would I consider buying.
03-19-2009, 05:11 PM
mAJORD

seconded.. The Vertex with updated firmware is all I'd consider buying in the near future (After some more time in the market, and feedback)
03-19-2009, 05:16 PM
Salavat23

Vertex did it right. More companies need to do the same, and not just focus on marketing useless sequential read/writes.
03-19-2009, 05:16 PM
Mads321

Quote:

I only skimmed through the review, just to see if I could find what controller is used on this SSD. Maybe I missed it, but could you tell me what controller is used in this drive?

- I actually don't know :shrug: I only had 3 days (mind you reviews are not my day job), so as I expected, there would be some faults in the review. Maybe I can find out what controller it uses, and if I do, I will be sure to let you know!

Quote:

And the pictures are too small to see as well.

Just click them - they are only thumps ;)
03-19-2009, 07:03 PM
mstp2009

This is another Dual JMicron controller.

Nothing to see here folks. Move on along.
03-19-2009, 07:09 PM
Miwo

I appreciate the time you took to do the benchmarks, but I would have liked to see more real-world testing, random read/write performance, IOMeter, and other hardware comparisons to non JMicron based SSDs like Vertex, Samsung SLC/MLC, X25s. I understand you're not a full time reviewer, but IMO a quick 100% review rating across the board - without even knowing what the controller is, just smells of giving out perfect reviews because you got some hardware from Patriot to play around with...
03-20-2009, 05:15 AM
Mads321

Quote:

I appreciate the time you took to do the benchmarks, but I would have liked to see more real-world testing, random read/write performance, IOMeter, and other hardware comparisons to non JMicron based SSDs like Vertex, Samsung SLC/MLC, X25s. I understand you're not a full time reviewer, but IMO a quick 100% review rating across the board - without even knowing what the controller is, just smells of giving out perfect reviews because you got some hardware from Patriot to play around with...

I'm with you here, but I'm sure you can understand that in my small country, things happens much slower than in the US, UK etc. We will never give out the impression that we are something other or more than we are capable of being, and the reviews we do are somewhat "supposed" to be a little flawed, since this time it's done by a first timer. However the 100 % rating is not obscene in any way, given the fact that this is the best price/performance / price/GB SSD available in our couontry at the moment.

You can rest assure that everything that comes to my knowlegde (like the build-in controller is important - didn't realize), WILL be taken account for, and everything in my power to do the most accurate and independant review will be done. It's a learning curve, for every review, more knowledge is gathered, and therefore more potential critisism is put in to play. You guys are ahead of me, that's not hard to get, but I'm putting every effort into getting leveled or straight forward ahead.

In other words, I'm listening and I'm noting everything I can to do better each time. I will not pretend I'm capable of doing anything more than that.
03-20-2009, 06:19 AM
Miwo

Thanks for accepting harsh criticism rather well. If you are not sure what to test and look for, feel free to ask around on forums or in your community. Plenty of people are helpful and will give suggestions
03-20-2009, 07:27 AM
FischOderAal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulburner

To be fair though, small file writes have always been the weak point of all disk drives, they just really seem to crawl on flash memory.

SLC-drives could do far better if they'd get as much attention as the ones with MLC imho. MLC is far more difficult to organize for the controller than SLC.

Can the Indilinx be used with SLC as well? Would be interesting to see the difference.
03-20-2009, 09:56 AM
Tony

All the fabs are moving away from SLC..soon non will be produced. The issue was SLC was to expensive to produce for end users to adopt it on mass..hence MLC drives are pushing forward.

Its like betamax over VHS...betamax was better but VHS was cheaper and easier to produce..hence end users adopted it
03-20-2009, 10:23 AM
Russian

"Service Unavailable"
03-20-2009, 10:35 AM
Mads321

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russian

"Service Unavailable"

Updated OP - our server went down this afternoon - sorry to keep you waiting :(
03-20-2009, 11:27 AM
FischOderAal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

All the fabs are moving away from SLC..soon non will be produced. The issue was SLC was to expensive to produce for end users to adopt it on mass..hence MLC drives are pushing forward.

Its like betamax over VHS...betamax was better but VHS was cheaper and easier to produce..hence end users adopted it

Sad to hear, although I doubt the shorter lifespan of MLC will be of any problem. We just need to get better chipsets and I think we're on the right way.
03-20-2009, 01:39 PM
Telperion

Good job on the review - shame about the random write performance.

Like others, the OCZ Vertex is the only SSD I'm even considering.
03-22-2009, 12:31 AM
BieBiep

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telperion

Good job on the review - shame about the random write performance.

Like others, the OCZ Vertex is the only SSD I'm even considering.

What about Intel's SSD's then? :shrug:
Over at anandtech's latest SSD article, you can really see WHY the pricing for them is justified
03-22-2009, 01:28 AM
Telperion

Quote:

Originally Posted by BieBiep

What about Intel's SSD's then? :shrug:
Over at anandtech's latest SSD article, you can really see WHY the pricing for them is justified

To me, they're not $300 faster than what I paid for my Vertex.
03-22-2009, 01:33 AM
zanzabar

is there a pic of the drives innards

i want a new ssd the ocz v2 that i have dosnt work as an OS drive (but great for a VM host drive) and im wanting an internal raided 128GB samsung controller with mlc for about $200

i think that win7 with booting from vhd might work too but im not sure and i dont have a build that works with vhd boot properly
03-22-2009, 02:41 AM
karateo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulburner

To be fair though, small file writes have always been the weak point of all disk drives, they just really seem to crawl on flash memory.

Compared with what?
Because a WD velociraptor has 1.63Mb/sec transfer for 4KB Random Write Speed copied from here http://www.anandtech.com/storage/sho...px?i=3531&p=25

and this drive here it seems to do 2Mb/sec
:confused: