OCZ announces Indilinx Barefoot 3 on the way...taking it to the next level...

[Zaxx]

Looks like the beginning of the next gen ssd...can't wait.


'The OCZ/Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller utilizes internally designed - the first time for OCZ - Aragon 400MHz 32-bit processor. The Aragon core supports an SSD specific RISC instruction set, allowing most instructions and branches to be executed in a single cycle, OCZ claims. The chip is set to be made using 65nm process technology at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. OCZ believes that the new Barefoot 3 SoC will significantly boost performance of its SSDs.'

From Ryan Peterson, CEO

"When implemented in SSD controller, this the [Aragon 3 core gives] a much higher performance than when using an off-the-shelf embedded safety field. This design opens a world of new possibilities for game changing SSD solutions as it supports unprecedented levels of processing power"


http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/storage...ontroller.html


The timing is also looking about right for them to use the new Intel 20nm nand and the new Toshiba 19nm toggle which will help keep the price down. Afaik SandForce's next controller isn't due out til Q2 2013 so Ocz doesn't have to rush the launch and profit before the other makers could get the controller too. Hope it's available by xmas.

[BeepBeep2]

Hmm controller on a 65nm process at TSMC, why not 40nm?

[paulbagz]

But how much faster can we get on SIII? Or is PCI-E 1x/4x perhaps the new way forward for 600Mbps+ consumer drives (not including Revo's etc as consumer class drives).

-PB

[kuroikenshi]

To be honest Paul I am of the opinion that SIII was already saturated bandwidth wise because the the sheer performance of SSD's I would also be of the idea to have PCI-E based boot drivers. I would really love to see a range of PCI-E 120GB for under $200 that could fill this market gap.

[Zaxx]

Yeah, 'sata via PCI-E' based solutions are in the making...would be 4x/8x for PCI-E 2.0 or x1/x4 for 3.0 probably. A Barefoot 3 based Revo or Revo X2 would simply be a beast. But there is still lots of room for improvement within sata3 besides just seq top speed...I'd like to see 250MB/s+ 4k writes or something wild like that. :P

[BeepBeep2]

Why don't companies just start developing PCI-E x4 cables and compatible 2.5" drives?

You know, like a riser cable

[kuroikenshi]

^^^ ohhh super F-KING idea!!! quickly Paul! To the Patent Lab!!!!..... we need to files ourselves a whole bunch of IP's



edit*** and at post 1000 this idea cannot be wrong!

[BeepBeep2]

Alright, I must be a genius now.

Really though, RevoDrives in 2.5" form factor with a riser cable (those of which do exist, and are used all the time) would be great.

[Zaxx]

I think we can look forward to a few new ways to blow past sata3 limits by using PCI-E without using a $300 raid card.

[Kain665]

Guys, SATA 4.0 is just around the corner...

[zanzabar]

SSDs are not about max throughput, the small IO speed matters more. there is plenty left in sata III for that.

[Zaxx]

SSDs are not about max throughput, the small IO speed matters more. there is plenty left in sata III for that.

+1...bring on the crazy low queue depth 4k write speeds!

[kaktus1907]

There is still plenty of room to improve 4K speeds which is OCZ talking about.. When you are dealing with thousands of small files you are left alone with your processor..

[mibo]

Where is that PCIe-Marvell-SSD without SATA/RAID burden they showed in January?

[SubZero.it]

I hope they are gonna develop better their firmwares also.

[paulbagz]

^^^ ohhh super F-KING idea!!! quickly Paul! To the Patent Lab!!!!..... we need to files ourselves a whole bunch of IP's



edit*** and at post 1000 this idea cannot be wrong!

-PB

[Tuvok-LuR-]

I'm fetching Barefoot,
(not) headed for a spin

[EniGmA1987]

But how much faster can we get on SIII? Or is PCI-E 1x/4x perhaps the new way forward for 600Mbps+ consumer drives (not including Revo's etc as consumer class drives).

-PB

Who cares? What I would like to see is random 4k to be pushing sataIII bandwidths. That would be something impressive. Sequential performance barely means anything, and we havent even broken Sata 1 bandwidths (single drive) with random4k speeds yet.





What I am most concerned with though is who actually designed the processor and firmware? Because If OCZ designed the processor that makes me EXTREMELY skeptical of it. I would want to wait out a whole generation before purchasing one, just so we know the bugs are worked out. OCZ may have cool people working for them and great customer service, but their engineering ability and technical expertise are 2nd to everybody.

I did a quick google search and came up with nothing. oes anyone know what kinda specs are on this processor? Dual core? triple? maybe even quad?

[crash5s]

Why don't companies just start developing PCI-E x4 cables and compatible 2.5" drives?

You know, like a riser cable

Probably has to do with what the market is for SSDs. An SSD has always been a much better upgrade for a laptop than a desktop simply due to size, battery, and heat concerns. So we've seen SSD's appear in just about every form factor possible for mobile devices. Desktops.... for most people desktop = "low budget purchase only if broke" style box, why waste an SSD on it? And while PCI-E riser cards are common for servers nobody sticks these desktop MLC based drives in those.

[Kain665]

Who cares? What I would like to see is random 4k to be pushing sataIII bandwidths. That would be something impressive. Sequential performance barely means anything, and we havent even broken Sata 1 bandwidths (single drive) with random4k speeds yet.

Vertex 4 gets over 300mbps with 4KRW. That's not SATA1 speeds...

[kaktus1907]

Vertex 4 gets over 300mbps with 4KRW. That's not SATA1 speeds...

he's talking about @QD1, up to 5 or 6 is already extreme for desktop usage.. and probably you will never see higher than that.. QD32 or 64 is just meaningless for a Desktop SSD..

[Kain665]

he's talking about @QD1, up to 5 or 6 is already extreme for desktop usage.. and probably you will never see higher than that.. QD32 or 64 is just meaningless for a Desktop SSD..

As low as QD3 will still net you over 300Mbps.

[Generic user #2]

that means we still have room to nearly double the performance

honestly, I wish we could choose firmware that optimized 4Ks over seqs. I would gladly give up hundreds of sequential Gbs for much faster 4ks

[zads]

...OCZ may have cool people working for them..

I'm guessing you have never dealt with the executives over there

[Kain665]

I'm guessing you have never dealt with the executives over there