Intel's 34nm NAND SSDs launch in two weeks

[deathman20]

Is there any word on if/when a new controller for Samsung/Indilinx be releasing a newer controller? Since Intel is pushing guessing these well at least maybe the Indilinx controller revision would be in the works, or if/when the other drives will start using the 34nm NAND's?

[Ao1]

So it seems. But people will still continue to Intel, so they can do whatever they like.

Saying you would show your disgust by voting with your feet and then running out and ordering 1 (maybe 2?) new drives the very next day sure taught Intel a lesson they won't forget

[pokerezzet]

It's almost as if these reviews are really previews, and the actually SSD's will not be readily availible until mid August?
I wouldn't be surprised if the drives might get some last minute tweaks as well as the fix to the password bug resolved too.
Has anyone actually received a Gen2 drive outside of the USA?

I live in Sweden and my 2*80GB G2 drives are ready for pickup tomorrow at my postoffice, ordered them during this weekend so G2 are available outside USA

[Rhys]

Saying you would show your disgust by voting with your feet and then running out and ordering 1 (maybe 2?) new drives the very next day sure taught Intel a lesson they won't forget

Had no choice if I wanted TRIM.
I was just lucky that I was able to get a good enough price for my G1 to enable me to upgrade to G2 for free, wasn't going to choose a Vertex again because they hadn't lowered their prices yet. Now if I want to raid 0, I have to get another G2!
They got me by the short curly's, I had to sell my G1 fast while it hadn't depreciated too much, but didn't want to wait weeks for the Turbo to be released and for other manufactures prices to come down.

But as it turns out we may have to wait weeks anyway Lol! It's like dasha vue, from March.

[Rhys]

Thought there was going to be 2x more 4k random write performance than G1???

[Ourasi]

Thought there was going to be 2x more 4k random write performance than G1???

I just had to look once at the Intel G1 numbers to see they where way off, the 80gb G1 and the 80gb G2 have pretty much the same performance, even if the G2 firmware is supposedly better on G2, manipulation of numbers to put it mildly.... Those 3.300 IOPS are probably from the PDF/whitepaper before the G1 release , in a used state or worse, because 3300IOPS@QD#32 4kb random write is a "broken" G1...



There is one reason to swap G1 for a G2, and that is TRIM, from a performance standpoint it's no reason to swap, not unless you desperately want the 20mb/s higher sequential write of the 160gb G2, the TRIM G2 firmware is ~3 months away anyway... Intel saw early that the only way to boost sales here is to do some "magic" with the numbers on G1 and exclude them from TRIM, and the tactic worked like a charm.... I won't bite though, atleast not untill the TRIM G2 firmware is actually out, because just now I have the performance already in 2xG1, and I'm gonna keep the G1's anyway as an apps/game array so I don't care about the 2. hand prices...

If any competitor can promise TRIM and deliver a drive with performance in the ballpark of the G1/G2 within the 2-3 month timeframe for this TRIM firmware, they will get my money..

[modboxx]

muahahahahahaha



I'm thinking of a 128k stripe and 128k alignment?

Ps sorry for the crappy iphone pic.

[Brahmzy]

Still using XP? If not, don't align. Vista & 7 align correctly automatically.

[JohnZS]

I live in Sweden and my 2*80GB G2 drives are ready for pickup tomorrow at my postoffice, ordered them during this weekend so G2 are available outside USA

Cool,
I hope that you enjoy the drives
John

[cx-ray]

Mine just shipped from within the EU. So, no prob with availability here either.

[Rhys]

Mine just shipped from within the EU. So, no prob with availability here either.

Scan.co.uk tell me they don't know exactly when they will receive stock, but they say they have been advised early-ish next week.

[Rhys]

muahahahahahaha



I'm thinking of a 128k stripe and 128k alignment?

Ps sorry for the crappy iphone pic.

Love to see some benchmarks, as I have updated my order to two now.

[pokerezzet]

CrystalDiskMark bench with two Intel X25-M G2 80GB drives in Raid0:



Are these results as expected or i have done something wrong?

[Rhys]

I just had to look once at the Intel G1 numbers to see they where way off, the 80gb G1 and the 80gb G2 have pretty much the same performance, even if the G2 firmware is supposedly better on G2, manipulation of numbers to put it mildly.... Those 3.300 IOPS are probably from the PDF/whitepaper before the G1 release , in a used state or worse, because 3300IOPS@QD#32 4kb random write is a "broken" G1...

That's bad form if what you say is correct!
I seem to have been suckered in by both Intel & Anand!

Hey Audience
Not sure about performance over you E's but at least you will now have more space especially if you will be keeping them.

Have you considered selling them and getting another 2 or 3 x25-m G2's?

[GunterFalstaff]

what should i expect as far as read/writes go when raiding 2 of these on an Asus am3 m4a79t? im soo close to buying these... lol

[Rhys]

what should i expect as far as read/writes go when raiding 2 of these on an Asus am3 m4a79t? im soo close to buying these... lol

Not 100% sure about AM3, but I heard AM2 is not so good for raid. You may be better off to just get 1x 80gb or a 160gb, or if you need writes speed a new OCZ colossus is 'apparently' due to be released soon which has around 260ish mb/s write speed and it's supposed to be cheap.

[Darth_Penguin]

Looking for some input. I currently run an Intel X25-Extreme 64GB drive as my OS/games drive. I love the performance and speed the drive offers but the lack of space is killing me. I got the drive for a killer deal so I wont lose any money if I sell it. Do you guys think "downgrading" to one of the G2 160gb drives is worthwhile or should I just stick it out for the prices to really drop?

[Rhys]

Looking for some input. I currently run an Intel X25-Extreme 64GB drive as my OS/games drive. I love the performance and speed the drive offers but the lack of space is killing me. I got the drive for a killer deal so I wont lose any money if I sell it. Do you guys think "downgrading" to one of the G2 160gb drives is worthwhile or should I just stick it out for the prices to really drop?

I would get 2x80gb's so you can fit everything on it.
Performance should be better and sequential writes won't be too far behind either but you will have enough space to really enjoy it.

There isn't anything worse than running out of space.

Edit: If your struggling for space, your not exactly taking advantage of the write speeds anyway! so your not actually downgrading even if the E is still 'considered' better! So my advise is pretty much the same as before.

Edit: Actually 3x 80's

[Darth_Penguin]

I would get 2x80gb's so you can fit everything on it.
Performance should be better and sequential writes won't be too far behind either but you will have enough space to really enjoy it.

There isn't anything worse than running out of space.

Edit: If your struggling for space, your not exactly taking advantage of the write speeds anyway! so your not actually downgrading even if the E is still 'considered' better! So my advise is pretty much the same as before.

Edit: Actually 3x 80's

Thanks for the fats reply!

I was thinking about Raid but it seems as of right now that two 80GB drives is going to cost a bit more than a single 160GB drive? I dont even know what the x25-E is worth or what to list it for but I was thinking about $400-450. I didn't want to spend more than $50-100 on top of that. So I really have a budget of $450-550. Does this change your opinion?

[Rhys]

Thanks for the fats reply!

I was thinking about Raid but it seems as of right now that two 80GB drives is going to cost a bit more than a single 160GB drive? I dont even know what the x25-E is worth or what to list it for but I was thinking about $400-450. I didn't want to spend more than $50-100 on top of that. So I really have a budget of $450-550. Does this change your opinion?

Yes get 2 80gb's.
You should be able to get $500 - $550 for your E.

But by all means get the 160gb x25-m and save a few $ if your not concerned with write speed.
Thing is when you got some space you might start creating/saving large files on your x25.

[Darth_Penguin]

Yes get 2 80gb's.
You should be able to get $500 - $550 for your E.

But by all means get the 160gb x25-m and save a few $ if your not concerned with write speed.
Thing is when you got some space you might start creating/saving large files on your x25.

Thank you for clearing that up for me. I just went through this thread again and couldn't find US pricing for the 80 and 160GB drives. After searching I found US Prices are supposed to be $225 for the 80GB and $440 for the 160GB Does this sound right? If so, then my math was off before and two 80GB drives is definitely feasible.

Thanks again for your help!

[GunterFalstaff]

Not 100% sure about AM3, but I heard AM2 is not so good for raid. You may be better off to just get 1x 80gb or a 160gb, or if you need writes speed a new OCZ colossus is 'apparently' due to be released soon which has around 260ish mb/s write speed and it's supposed to be cheap.

When is the Colossus supposed to be out? that definitely sounds like a good deal @ $300 for the 128gb

a quote from Tony on OCZ forums...

some info for you guys:

The 1st gen of this drive is sata 3.0, it has a single sata connector and as such is limited to sata 3.0 speeds. its performance is much higher than a single drive, 4K RW is 4X better than single Vertex.

The design brief was for capacity and performance for the desktop user.

We can and we will port this drive to sata 6.0 with new raid interface, that will be the gen2 version of the drive. I am not sure if the barefoot controller also will be changed at this time.

I have asked for a sample as well as a revised sample of the Z drive, both Colossus and Z drive have changed quite a bit from their first showing...

Thats all i can feed you at this time, as i get more i can leak i will.

New info on Colossus says it will be sold mid-august..
http://translate.google.com/translat...istory_state0=

I do believe the Colossus will be my next purchase(s)... im just going to pass up these Intel SSD's.... i REALLY didnt want to give Intel my money anyways

[bigjohns97]

CrystalDiskMark bench with two Intel X25-M G2 80GB drives in Raid0:



Are these results as expected or i have done something wrong?

I just raided 2 80 gig g2's myself and got similar results.

[Boogerlad]

how long does it take for it to do a full reformat to ntfs? couple of seconds?

[Earzz]

I just raided 2 80 gig g2's myself and got similar results.

These are my results on a ICH9R and W7

Without Write-Back Cache


With Write-Back Cache


Single Postville


Whats wrong with my 512k write (RAID0) speeds?