Archive

OCZ IBIS, SSD unit with new HSDL interface | Posted on: 30/09/2010 @ 3:12

IBIS is the first SSD using OCZ Technology's work with the storage interface HSDL that was presented at Computex earlier this year. OCZ IBIS is a 3.5" drive with four SandForce controllers together and an interface with 2GB/s bandwidth.

OCZ launches Onyx 2 SSD series | Posted on: 30/09/2010 @ 2:12

OCZ Technology continues to announce new SSDs and last to hit the market is another SandForce based series called Onyx 2. Despite the powerful SandForce processor Onyx 2 will be an affordable alterantive if we are to believe the press release.

OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB SSD review | Posted on: 29/09/2010 @ 14:00

£190 for a quality 120GB solid-state drive powered by the SandForce controller. What's the catch?

OCZ's Fastest SSD, The IBIS and HSDL Interface Reviewed | Posted on: 29/09/2010 @ 12:24

Earlier this year OCZ announced its intention to bring a new high speed SSD interface to the market. Frustrated with the slow progress of SATA interface speeds, OCZ wanted to introduce an interface that would allow greater performance scaling today. Dubbed the High Speed Data Link (HSDL), OCZ’s new interface delivers 2 - 4GB/s (that’s right, gigabytes) of bi-directional bandwidth to a single ...

WD Scorpio Black 500GB Notebook Hard Drive Review | Posted on: 27/09/2010 @ 23:00

Designed with enthusiast notebook computers in mind, the WD5000BEKT Scorpio Black high performance hard drive delivers the capacity and speed needed to supercharge a notebook PC without compromising battery life or quiet acoustics. We put it to the test and compare it to the Seagate Momentus 7200.4 and XT 500GB notebook hard drives in a number of benchmarks to see how they perform!

Cirago CST6000 250gb USB 3.0 Hard Drive @ TestFreaks | Posted on: 26/09/2010 @ 0:24

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-cirago-cst6000-250gb-usb-3-0-hard-drive/ (http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-cirago-cst6000-250gb-usb-3-0-hard-drive/)Quote: "Cirago has decided to further join the USB 3.0 revolution with the introduction of their new CST6000 portable hard drive. It’s a 250gb 2.5” drive that runs on the USB 3.0 interface so it should achieve some ...

Review: Corsair Force F40 CSSD-F40GB2 | Posted on: 24/09/2010 @ 16:12

When it comes to solid state drives, it's all about the controller chipset. Granted, the quality of the flash memory used is important, too, but it's the controller chip that makes the biggest difference to both out-of-the box performance and longevity.For SSD buyers on a budget, that's a problem. Smaller, more affordable SSDs tend to have cheapo controllers. That's probably a false economy given ...

Review: Crucial realSSD C300 64GB | Posted on: 24/09/2010 @ 16:12

Solid state drives are definitely coming of age. Not only are they increasingly the norm for mid-range laptops and pre-built gaming systems, but we've seen huge leaps in performance lately. From Kingston's SSD Now V+ series to the SandForce-powered Agility 2 and Vertex 2 from OCZ, things are looking good for SSDs.Crucial's latest realSSD C300 drive is available in three sizes, 64GB, 128GB and ...

Kingston SSDNow V+ 180 working in small spaces | Posted on: 24/09/2010 @ 1:48

Memory maker Kingston has expanded its assortment of SSDs with the new series SSDNow V+ 180. With a minimalistic 1.8" format and good performance Kingston's latest SSD is aimed for ultraportables, including netbooks and ultrathin models.

Hitachi/LG BH20L 6x Blu-ray Burner | Posted on: 22/09/2010 @ 20:12

The Hitachi/LG BH20L is capable of burning Blu-ray discs up to 6x. While it is not the fastest Blu-ray burner available, it is cost effective and reliable. Add in the ability to write CDs and DVDs, as well as to label discs with LightScribe, and this is a well rounded Blu-ray burner. If you are in the market for a Blu-ray burner, the Hitachi/LG BH20L is worth considering.

OCZ RevoDrive PCI-Express SandForce SSD Review | Posted on: 22/09/2010 @ 11:27

Benchmark Reviews: Storage standards and bandwidth aside, it's understandable why SSDs were developed on a drive profile first: notebook and desktop hard disk drive upgrades offered a tremendous user-base. Unfortunately, SSDs were introduced with premium prices that rendered many consumers numb with sticker shock. As the technology became more prevalent, prices have also become more affordable ...

Thermaltake BlacX 5G USB 3.0 Hard Drive Dock @ Bona Fide Reviews | Posted on: 20/09/2010 @ 4:24

http://www.bonafidereviews.com/review-of-thermaltake-blacx-5g-usb-3-0-hard-drive-dock/ (http://www.bonafidereviews.com/review-of-thermaltake-blacx-5g-usb-3-0-hard-drive-dock/)Quote: "Ah, good old USB 3.0 is popping up more and more, I think it’s finally coming into its own?! Ok, it hasn’t been that widely accepted yet, but it’s slowly getting there. Today for review I’ve got a new product ...

Intel postpone 25nm SSDs to February 2011 | Posted on: 19/09/2010 @ 1:12

Intel has started mass production of its new NAND flash circuits with 25nm technology, which will lead to substantially higher storage capacities. We now have reliable information that points to that 25nm products will not appear before February 2011, but in large quantities.

PhotoFast reaches 1500 MB/s with PCIe SSD | Posted on: 19/09/2010 @ 1:12

Storage maker PhotoFast has plans to finish the year with a bang. It has several new SSD solutions coming and one of them is PhotoFast PowerDrive-LSI, a PCIe-basd storage unit with four SSD controllers, 512MB DDR2 cache and write speeds up to 1500 MB/s (!).

PhotoFast launches SATA 6,0 Gbps SSD with 430MB/s | Posted on: 19/09/2010 @ 0:36

Japanese SSD maker PhotoFast is closing on the launch of its latest 2.5" solution that promises staggering performance over the SATA 6.0 Gbps interface. PhotoFast G-Monster3 XV1 will reach read speeds up to 430 MB/s with write speeds at 300 MB/s, which is unmatched today.

ADATA S596 Turbo Review: JMicron 616 | Posted on: 16/09/2010 @ 13:36

Our first look at JMicron's latest JMF616 controller chip reveals it strengths and weaknesses

Synology DiskStation DS411+ NAS | Posted on: 15/09/2010 @ 10:12

Speaking of the hardware alone, the Synology DiskStation 411+ NAS is fantastic. I cannot think of any issues one might have with the unit. It would take a serious number of users to fully tax the hardware; more people than you would typically find at the DS411+'s target market of small to medium-sized businesses.

Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 64GB USB 3.0 | Posted on: 15/09/2010 @ 6:22

The Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate USB 3.0 flash drive packs 64GB of capacity onto a form factor that can fit onto your key ring. A beastly amount of information can be stored on a 64GB flash drive, data of all sorts and sizes. But how how fast is this USB 3.0 drive? Well, we put the Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate to the test, both in USB 2.0 and USB 2.0 modes to find out.

OCZ RevoDrive X2 SSD with four SandForce controllers | Posted on: 15/09/2010 @ 1:48

SandForce and OCZ decided to show some new solutions at IDF 2010 and on the center stage we have OCZ RevoDrive X2. A PCIe-based SSD storage unit with four SandForce controllers offering read and write speeds up to 730 MB/s and staggering IOPS.

IDF 2010: SandForce Using Intel 25nm MLC Flash On SSDs | Posted on: 14/09/2010 @ 23:36

While walking around the IDF 2010 technology showcase we stopped by the SandForce booth to see what new SSD (Solid State Drive) technology that they were showing off. SandForce didn't disappoint us as we quickly saw several very cool SSD products sitting around the booth. The first thing that caught our attention was an SSD running the latest Intel 25nm MLC TSOP NAND Flash!

Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 & OCZ Enyo, Quick Look at Two USB 3.0 SSDs | Posted on: 14/09/2010 @ 23:24

  Since I reviewed my first SSD, three things have happened. 1) Controllers have improved significantly. My personal favorite, SandForce’s SF-1200, can outperform the original X25-M by more than 3x in random write speed. 2) Consumer capacities have tripled. While the majority of SSDs sold are still under 100GB in size, you can now get 240GB and even 480GB consumer drives. 3) Prices ...

Corsair Force Series F80 SSD: to RAID or not to RAID? | Posted on: 10/09/2010 @ 23:12

Ever wondered how quick two SandForce-powered SSDs would be in a RAID configuration? We find out.

New Linux Benchmarks Of SilverStone's HDDBOOST | Posted on: 10/09/2010 @ 18:12

Back in April we reviewed the SilverStone HDDBOOST, which was an innovative product from this manufacturer known for their computer cases that allows you to pair a solid-state drive and a hard drive in an attempt to experience the best of both worlds when it comes to storage performance. The purpose of the HDDBOOST is to increase the disk performance by enabling SSD speeds on the host hard drive ...

Kingston releases SSD calculator for businesses | Posted on: 10/09/2010 @ 3:12

SSDs have become popular for its performance. Price hasn't been one of the arguments for purchase, something Kingston wants to change with its SSDNow ROI Calculator. A tool that makes it easier for companies to evaluate costs.

PAX Prime 2010 – Checking Out Console Games and Dropping In On Discussion Panels | Posted on: 09/09/2010 @ 21:00

Seagate FreeAgent Go 500Gb Portable Hard Drive @ TestFreaks | Posted on: 09/09/2010 @ 10:00

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-seagate-freeagent-go-500gb-portable-hard-drive/ (http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-seagate-freeagent-go-500gb-portable-hard-drive/)Quote: "Today for review Seagate has sent me over one of their FreeAgent Go drives, specifically the 500gb version. I’ve taken a look at quite a few Seagate products in the past and I’ve always liked ...

Blu-Ray Disc Association Would ‘Welcome’ Microsoft to Join Them | Posted on: 08/09/2010 @ 18:00

In an interview with CVG, the Blu-ray Disc Association’s European Chairman Graham Heaton has said that Microsoft (and any other company willing)  would be ‘welcome’ to join the BDA. This statement is a dismissive response to Microsoft’s suggestion that when the current discs for Xbox become unviable, they would use streaming and downloads. However, Heaton [...]Blu-Ray Disc Association ...

Synology DS411+ 4-Bay NAS Review @ Tweaknews | Posted on: 08/09/2010 @ 2:56

In terms of performance, Synology's DS411+ is tough to beat. Both read and write speeds are blazing fast and it can easily handle multiple, simultaneous file transfers. All in all, the unit is consistent with what I've come to expect from Synology - stable, intuitive, flexible, quiet, and easy to set up.

OCZ Technology Enyo 128GB Portable USB 3.0 SSD Review | Posted on: 07/09/2010 @ 20:48

The OCZ Enyo USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive (SSD) features all the performance and durability advantages of an internal SSD, but in a slim portable USB 3.0 external storage solution for on-the-go power users. With up to 260MB/s read and 200MB/s write capabilities, the OCZ Enyo is unlike any portable USB 3.0 device you have ever used before.

Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60 GB SSD | Posted on: 03/09/2010 @ 23:00

Mushkin's Callisto 60 GB comes at a very affordable $145 which makes it the cheapest 60 GB Sandforce-driven SSD on the market today. With a capacity of 60 GB it is a great choice for a Windows 7 boot drive. TRIM is also supported, so you get the maximum out of your SSD even after it's aged a bit.

Crucial RealSSD C300 128GB CTFDDAC128MAG-1G1 Solid State Drive Review | Posted on: 03/09/2010 @ 21:49

Things are moving fast in the highly competitive world of solid state drives, with each manufacturer trying to outdo the other with extra features, or improvements in firmware and performance.  Today's review subject, the Crucial RealSSD 128GB...

OCZ 60GB Agility 2 SATA II SSD | Posted on: 03/09/2010 @ 21:49

Nothing beats putting together a new computer and having the best available technology in it. For hard drives that can only mean going Solid State. Today, we feature OCZ's latest SSD: the Agility 2. It's the successor to the Agility and it packs a huge punch.

Lite-On iHBS112 12X Blu-ray Disc Writer | Posted on: 03/09/2010 @ 21:48

Blu-Ray burners are starting to reach many home users looking to backup massive amounts of data or make copies of movies without compromising any level of quality. When it comes to bulk burner, speed is important. With the lowest price in the market, Lite-On has you covered with the iHBS112.

OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SSD | Posted on: 03/09/2010 @ 19:36

As solid-state drives are becoming very popular with enthusiasts and a common choice for those interested in high-performance data storage, at Phoronix we have reviewed many SSDs from OCZ Technology including the Agility, Agility EX, Vertex, and Solid 2. Today we are reviewing the next-generation Vertex SSD, which is the Vertex 2, and it promises to offer much faster reads and writes, is rated to ...

OCZ RevoDrive Review: 120GB | Posted on: 03/09/2010 @ 13:24

Two SandForce controllers and 1GB/sec of bandwidth should make for quick storage

Crucial RealSSD C400 gets 25nm technology in Q1 2011 | Posted on: 03/09/2010 @ 2:36

Crucial has one of the fastest SSD units on the market with the SATA 6.0 Gbps RealSSD C300. The company has now revealed that the successor will come in Q1 2011 , named Real SSD C400, and using 25 nanometer technology.

Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 120GB | Posted on: 01/09/2010 @ 5:52

The Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 120GB looks to offer the same killer performance as its competitors, but more importantly it comes with an extremely impressive price tag at only $269. Frankly, we're shocked at such an amazing value.