OCZ Vertex 3 240GB Max IOPS review

1. Features, specs

Review Pages

1. Features, specs
2. Package, installation
3. Benchmarks - page 1
4. Benchmarks - page 2
5. Final thoughts

The OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS solid state drives have been designed to unleash the performance potential of the SATA 6Gbps interface. Available in capacities of 120GB ($275) and 240GB ($540), OCZ's latest Sandforce-based offering pushed the limits in read/write rates with up to 85,000 IOPS maximum 4k write performance.

Compared to the OCZ Vertex 3 series, the "Max IOPS" is based on the same SandForce SF-2281 SSD processor, but it is based on 32nm Toshiba Toggle NAND and not the latest Intel 25nm MLC NAND used in existing Vertex 3 drives. The standard 240GB Vertex 3 has 32 die spread across 16 chips. The MAX IOPS version doubles that to 64 die in 16 chips. The 120GB Vertex 3 only has 16 die across 16 chips while the MAX IOPS version has 32 die, but only using 8 chips.

The 25nm seems to have caused confusion with respect to capacities and frustration amongst new Sandforce equipped SSD buyers as many learned that performance is totally dependent on the NAND in use. In addition, 2Xnm NAND also presents us with another barrier and that is its reduced total write cycle which for the most part has been tackled by firmware changes but is still a concern to many. Last but not least, the 32nm NAND is more expensive than the 25nm. Hopefully, this is translated in just $40 more in the final retail price of the new OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS compared to the Vertex 3.

The Vertex 3 Max IOPS series also features TRIM support to optimize performance over the drive’s lifespan as a Windows 7 companion. Vertex 3 SSDs come backed by a 3-Year Warranty.

Below you see the specifications of the 240 GB version of the OCZ Vertex 3 Series – MAX IOPS Edition (VTX3MI-25SAT3-240G - $540), which we will test today:

Specifications