Cherryville - SSD 520

[Christopher]

Hmm. I've read that the 120GB 320 has its 10 channels populated by 16 devices. I would assume that if the 320 40GB has 48GB of flash on it, the 120GB 320 could have 144GB on it (somehow). So I would really think that if the 520 had extra flash packed on there, someone would have figured it out by now.

[johnw]

Hmm. I've read that the 120GB 320 has its 10 channels populated by 16 devices. I would assume that if the 320 40GB has 48GB of flash on it, the 120GB 320 could have 144GB on it (somehow). So I would really think that if the 520 had extra flash packed on there, someone would have figured it out by now.

Actually, the 520 does have extra flash. For example, the "120GB" 520 has 128GiB of flash on the circuit board.

128GiB - 120GB = 16.241GiB

But that extra 16.241GiB could be used as 8GiB for RAISE plus 8.241GiB for overprovisioning (OP), or it could be used all 16.241GiB for OP.

What I am looking for is definitive word from Intel whether any of the extra flash is used for RAISE, or whether RAISE is disabled (as is the case with a lot of 60GB Sandforce SSDs).

[Christopher]

Actually, the 520 does have extra flash. For example, the "120GB" 520 has 128GiB of flash on the circuit board.

128GiB - 120GB = 16.241GiB

But that extra 16.241GiB could be used as 8GiB for RAISE plus 8.241GiB for overprovisioning (OP), or it could be used all 16.241GiB for OP.

What I am looking for is definitive word from Intel whether any of the extra flash is used for RAISE, or whether RAISE is disabled (as is the case with a lot of 60GB Sandforce SSDs).

No, there is not to my knowledge any documentation to what you were looking for. But I am 100% certain there is not more flash on there (than 128GiB). It's all being used between spare area and overprovisioning. But there is no documentation. I don't find it coincidental that within a few weeks of Cherryville that now other SF partners have the ability to dispense with RAISE and get that space back.

The important thing here is that they ditched RAISE.

[johnw]

No, there is not to my knowledge any documentation to what you were looking for. But I am 100% certain there is not more flash on there (than 128GiB). It's all being used between spare area and overprovisioning. But there is no documentation. I don't find it coincidental that within a few weeks of Cherryville that now other SF partners have the ability to dispense with RAISE and get that space back.

What are you talking about? Who said anything about there being "more flash" than 128GiB? I know there is 128GiB, the question is whether any of the extra flash (in excess of 120GB) is used for RAISE, or whether RAISE is disabled.

[Hopalong X]

Intel has been reported to have written their own FW for the 520.

There is a possibility they went with the 320 "raid like" FW. On the 120GB you have almost 112GB usable, 8GB OP and one 8GB NAND for controller use.
Only posting as a possibility.

Average write speeds are lower than an m4. Post #3653> http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...s-34nm/page147

I thought average would be closer to the Samsung 830 on Anvils app.

[johnw]

Intel has been reported to have written their own FW for the 520.

There is a possibility they went with the 320 "raid like" FW. On the 120GB you have almost 112GB usable, 8GB OP and one 8GB NAND for controller use.

No, Intel is said to have modified the Sandforce firmware, but there is no indication that they changed it so much that it makes sense to say they "wrote their own".

And the usable capacity on the 120GB Intel 520 is about 120GB (what a surprise!), not 112GB. You appear to have gotten confused between GB and GiB (probably because of the Windows bug).

[Hopalong X]

johnw

Thanks for the info on the 520.

The Intel Tool Box shows my 320 111.8GB. I was basing my posted info from this. GiB it is.

[johnw]

The Intel Tool Box shows my 320 111.8GB. I was basing my posted info from this. GiB it is.

Under Windows, quite a few programs display "GB" when they mean "GiB". Usually it does not matter, but when discussing SSD overprovisioning these differences are important.

An easy way to check the actual capacity of an SSD in Windows is to navigate to the SSD in explorer, then right click it and choose "properties". Then look for the line "Capacity" and it will show the usable capacity in bytes, so no GB,GiB confusion (well, it also shows "GB" when it is really "GiB", but ignore that!)

[Gilgamesh]

OK, NOW this is a fair price

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820167086

360$ for Intel 520 240GB.