OCZ shows its full Sandforce based SSD lineup

[zalbard]

Source: http://www.fudzilla.com/

OCZ has showed its upcoming SSD drives based on the new Sandforce controllers, and judging by what we were able to see over at OCZ, they are certainly aiming to be one of the major SSD players.



The lineup starts with the Agility 2, which uses SATA II interface and MCL NAND memory and gives a max read and write speeds of up to 275MB/s and 265MB/s. The IOPS for 4k random write is around 10,000. The new Agility will be available in 50, 100, 200 and 400GB capacities. The best part of it is the price as it should have a similar price as the previous Agility except you'll get a bit less space due to the configuration, so the 50GB Agility 2 should hit retail with a price similar to the 60GB Agility.



The next in line is the Vertex LE, and although it was never officially announced, this drive was the first Sandforce based SSD that showed up in the market. OCZ only made around 5,000 of Vertex Limited Edition SSDs and once those 5,000 are sold in the channel there will be no more drives. As announced before, this one has a max read and write speed of around 270 and 250MB/s and IOPS for 4k random write is around 15,000. The Vertex LE will be available in 100 and 200GB versions.




The last, but definitely not the least is the Vertex 2 with a same SATA II interface and MLC NAND chips. Unlike Agility 2, which is based on cheaper and thus slower Sandforce controller, Vertex 2 is normally much faster.



The maximum read and write speeds for Vertex 2 are rated at 280 and 270MB/s and IOPS for 4k random write is at 20,000. This one will be also available in 50, 100, 200 and 400GB capacities and should have the same fate with price as the Agility 2, so you can expect the similar prices to the older Vertex SSD.

20k random write IOPS @ 4k at the price of the old Vertex drives? Yes, please!

[Metroid]

Very nice, now we just need to know the availability.

[Frank M]

I have a hunch SATA-3Gbps is holding these drives back, which reaches it's
bw limit at around 270-280MBps...

[Metroid]

Corsair is doing the same.

Corsair has today taken another step in its solid-state drive revamp with the introduction of its high-end Force Series SSDs.

The drives, available in 100GB and 200GB capacities, arrive as ultra-high-performance additions to the mid-range Nova and Reactor series launched earlier this month.

Featuring a SATA 3Gbps interface, both Force Series SSDs make use of Intel MLC NAND Flash memory and a SandForce SF-1200 SSD controller to deliver impressive sequential read and write speeds of up to 285MB/s and 275MB/s, respectively, making these the fastest 2.5in Corsair SSDs to date.

Both drives offer out-the-box support for Windows 7's TRIM command, and come backed by Corsair's two year warranty.

There's no word on pricing as yet, but Corsair tells us that the Force Series F100 and F200 drives will be shipping in around a fortnight.

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=22732

[n!Cola]

So how much will be price of Agility 2 100gb ?
Could be my first ssd ..

[zalbard]

I wonder when Intel is going to do something about the competition. Surely they don't want to wait till Q3 (or was it Q4?) for their new NAND, huh?

[Metroid]

OCZ Vertex 2 and Agility 2 more here

I do not really know which article is right, Fudzilla reports "The last, but definitely not the least is the Vertex 2 with a same SATA II interface and MLC NAND chips. Unlike Agility 2, which is based on cheaper and thus slower Sandforce controller, Vertex 2 is normally much faster.", tweker.net reports SF-1200.

The question is if the Vertex 2 uses SF-1200 or SF-1500.

I wonder when Intel is going to do something about the competition. Surely they don't want to wait till Q3 (or was it Q4?) for their new NAND, huh?

Only thing I know, nothing new, OCZ and Corsair will take the lead using the Sandforce controller, Intel will regain when it launches its 25nm line.

http://anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3747&p=4

[n!Cola]

OCZ Vertex 2 and Agility 2 more here

I do not really know which article is right, Fudzilla reports "The last, but definitely not the least is the Vertex 2 with a same SATA II interface and MLC NAND chips. Unlike Agility 2, which is based on cheaper and thus slower Sandforce controller, Vertex 2 is normally much faster.", tweker.net reports SF-1200.

The question is if the Vertex 2 uses SF-1200 or SF-1500.

on your link :

[shawmanus]

these drives are good. Only question raised by anandtech about its reliability. We need more rigorous testing.

I wish prices came down enough for 200GB @$500. Intel has nothing to worry at the current prices. 160GB G2 is available at $430 and is a good buy at that price. If necessary intel can further reduce price to below $400. I think majority would buy 160GB at the same price as 100GB SF drive. Even Indilinix drives have not come down in prices for a long time( i still see 256GB > $650).

I think intel needs to release 300/600GB at sub $2 per GB to bring down the prices overall.

[Metroid]

on your link :

Still did not answer my question

I will PM Tony and ask

[n!Cola]

Still did not answer my question

I will PM Tony and ask

hmm i gees i don't get it
Vertex 2 is not SF-1200 ?
and EX with slc is SF-1500 ?

[Metroid]

I think intel needs to release 300/600GB at sub $2 per GB to bring down the prices overall.

$1.5 per GB 25nm Q4

hmm i gees i don't get it
Vertex 2 is not SF-1200 ?

I don't know, one says it is, the other it is not

Thanks anyway

[AlterBridge86]

Metroid -

I'd still ask Tony, but from what I remember the Vertex 2 was initially going to be SF-1500 based, but OCZ realized that it was going to be cost prohibitive to launch a consumer drive based on that chip.

The reason for the Vertex LE is simply that OCZ must have gotten a good price on the first batch of SF-1500's and decided to build an exclusive, limited edition product, in order to recoup their investment.

Unfortunately, I don't have any true sources to link to, this is just info I've gathered by perusing the OCZ forums over the last few months. I'm sure Tony will be able to give you a much better answer

[Metroid]

So how much will be price of Agility 2 100gb ?
Could be my first ssd ..

I forgot to answer this

The article says that It will be launched with similar prices as the Agility 1, don't believe it as the Agility 1 uses 50nm. http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...-review-5.html , newer versions are using Crucial 34nm http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...4&postcount=11

So the Agility 2 will be cheaper, expect only 20% lower than $379 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227462 , it could be cheaper but because of the pricey Sandforce controller.

Metroid -

I'd still ask Tony, but from what I remember the Vertex 2 was initially going to be SF-1500 based, but OCZ realized that it was going to be cost prohibitive to launch a consumer drive based on that chip.

The reason for the Vertex LE is simply that OCZ must have gotten a good price on the first batch of SF-1500's and decided to build an exclusive, limited edition product, in order to recoup their investment.

Unfortunately, I don't have any true sources to link to, this is just info I've gathered by perusing the OCZ forums over the last few months. I'm sure Tony will be able to give you a much better answer

Exactly my thoughts, good answer

[Teemax]

I don't know about the market elsewhere, but in Europe, Intel X-25M postville is current the best price/performance by far...

Hopefully OCZ will put price pressure on the competition, but honestly, I'm counting on Intel with their 25nm IMflash to bring SSD to the mass market.

[n!Cola]

I forgot to answer this

The article says that It will be launched with similar prices as the Agility 1, don't believe it as the Agility 1 uses 50nm. http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...-review-5.html , newer versions are using Crucial 34nm http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...4&postcount=11

So the Agility 2 will be cheaper, expect only 20% lower than $379 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227462 , it could be cheaper but because of the pricey Sandforce controller.

Thanx for input Metroid, now when they will be out

[gergregg]

Nice to see the full lineup from OCZ. Curious to see some reviews of the agility2 and vertex2.

[DragoonXX]

looks like I am holding off on SSD upgrades until ~christmas

[turtletrax]

Damn, I was going to pull the trigger on 2x160GB Intel G2's. Looks Like I am holding off. Any idea when these go live?

[Sam_oslo]

Why are SSD-prices the same as last year?

I bought my little 30GB Vertex at the first day of release last year. and I've just checked, the price has fallen by only ~15% until today, while the MB i bought at the same time has fallen by ~25%.


With so many new actors arriving the SSD market, and so many new drives hitting the marked almost daily, shouldn't the prices fall much more and faster?.

All these new drives with these new wonderful controllers seams to be delivering just a tad to the performance (at least, nothing could convince me to upgrade yet). The Crucial Real SSD C300 was the only real upgrade option for me, but the 64GB had useless performance, and the 250GB was too expensive. Most new SSD seams to be adding a tad to the performance but pushing the price up to the same level as before, lately.

[Dainas]

I bought my Agility 128GB at zipzoomfly last october for $280, my guess is what they mean by similar pricing is the current gouge fest that has been going on for months. Not the price they originally intended.

[topaimz]

I would rather have an 256GB SSD that has the same price and the performance of a 128GB Vertex.

I was cringing at the sight of "50GB"...
Even the Intel 60GB SSD doesn't have enough space after I install all my programs and essential data on it
A "50GB"... bloody hell.

[MadHacker]

my self i was thinking 2 60 or 64gig drives and putting them in raid0
that would be more then enough for a boot drive. well for me anyways.

[shawmanus]

$1.5 per GB 25nm Q4



I don't know, one says it is, the other it is not

Thanks anyway

Hope that happens. Then we should be able to buy 200GB Sandforce/256GB Indilinix drives @ 350.

[turtletrax]

my self i was thinking 2 60 or 64gig drives and putting them in raid0
that would be more then enough for a boot drive. well for me anyways.

RAID 0 with SSDs is a romantic thought, but disables trim. Drive slows down then you have to wipe them separately then re-image. OK for a bench rig, sux for a 24/7. I am gonna go with two 100+GB drives and leave them separate. Blazing fast encoding and trim FTW!!