OCZ Vertex 4 128GB SSD Review (firmware 1.4 update)

1. Introduction2. OCZ Vertex 4 128GB SSD3. OCZ Vertex 4 128GB SSD (Super High Res Gallery)4. Testing Methodology5. CrystalDiskMark6. ATTO Disk Benchmark7. AS SSD8. PCMark 79. IOMeter10. Real World Testing11. Closing Thoughts12. View All Pages

I review many Solid State drives each month … a high percentage of which are based around the Sandforce 2281 controller, with a different sticker on the chassis. It is generally a rather tedious process with a conclusion almost entirely based around the price point.

When we received OCZ's Vertex 4 512GB on April 4th, it was literally like a breath of fresh air. It was without question one of the most capable, well balanced Solid State drives available today.

Not content to rest on their laurels OCZ have been hard at work behind the scenes improving the performance of the drives. The latest 1.4 Firmware ensures that the Vertex 4 128GB drive can compete against the larger, more expensive 512GB model.

While the high end Sandforce 2281 controlled drives still have the best sequential, compressible read and write bandwidth, the Vertex 4 can maintain the same bandwidth parameters when dealing with both compressible and incompressible data.

Not taking a performance hit with any form of data can be such a vital prerequisite within specialised environments. We class OCZ's Indilinx Everest 2 as the clear market leader for both mainstream consumer and professional industries.

IOPS performance from the Vertex 4 128GB is conjointly class leading, dominating any Sandforce 2281 drive we have tested in the last year. Both of our intensive 4k random tests indicate unshakable results between 80,000 and 90,000 IOPS. This drive can be safely incorporated into a demanding data based server environment without a possible compromise on ultimate throughput.

If you are in the market for a new Solid State Drive, there really is only one drive I would unreservedly recommend right now, OCZ's Vertex 4.

This drive is available for an incredible £105.95 inc vat from ARIA today. I would class this as one of the tech bargains of 2012.

Pros:

• Indilinx Everest 2 controller is the new class leader.
• IOPS performance is dominating.
• No performance hit with incompressible data.
• OCZ look after their customers with a 5 year warranty.
• very competitive pricing.

Cons:

• None.

Kitguru says: If you want a new SSD this is the one to get. It has redefined the market.

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