OCZ Vector SSD review - Specifications and Features

Specifications and Features

So the sample that has arrived in our secret test facility is the 256GB version of the drive. The Vector series will come with MLC NAND, flash memory from the IMFT 25nm node. The NAND flash used is labeled: M2502128T048SX22. A familiar part number as that is the same memory being used on the Vertex 4. So that's Synchronous 25nm NAND Flash. IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) by the way is a joint venture of Micron Technology and Intel btw.

Controller Architecture

The 25nm IMFT ONFi NAND flash memory is tied towards a new Barefoot 3 controller located under product code IDX500M. This is an 8-channel NAND flash controller and the third revision from Indilinx, it comes with an all to familiar dual-core ARM architecture.

The Barefoot 3 controller makes used of pretty big memory partitions for caching, that means that internal DDR3 memory plastered and hammered shut onto the PCB being used as file and data caches. The Vector has 512MB of cache divided over two 256MB ICs from Micron, but as we'll show you later on in the photo shoot, there is room for more.

On the next pages we'll be showing you some PCB photo's as well, and what you'll notice is that it carries DDR memory caches as well. In-between the different SKUs the 256GB has a 512MB buffer, and some write speed variation with the lower capacity model. 

• SATA 3 - 6Gbp/s Interface
• 25nm IMFT NAND Flash
• 7mm form factor
• 128GB. 256GB and 512GB models
• Bundles with Acronis Clone software
• High performance and endurance without compression/loss of usable capacity
• Advanced suite of Flash management to increase durability and reliability
• Lower Power consumption IDLE 0.9W / Active 2.25W
• TRIM support
• 5 Year Warranty

Over the SATA3 / SATA 6 Gb/s interface you may expect read speeds up to 550 MB/s and writes up to 530 MB/s based on volume size of the SSD. Both the 256GMB and 512GB model will have these performance numbers. The 128GB model will however have less write performance at 400 MB/sec. All these models have an advertised 4K random IOPS rating in-between 100,000 random read and 90,000 random write (4K aligned).

The new OCZ Vector SSD getting warmed up for a spanking