Tag Archives: ssd

Corsair recalls dodgy Force Series SSDs

Only the 120 GB variant is affected If you’ve been having problems with your shiny new Corsair Force Series SSD, you’re not alone.

Corsair say they have identified a number of stability issues with the 120 GB variant CSSD-F120GB3-BK, and are urging customers to return their faulty SSDs for a replacement drive.

Unfortunately the problem can’t be fixed with a simple firmware upgrade alone; it also requires changes to the hardware. Corsair are footing the shipping bill so at least it won’t cost you any money.

Even if you haven’t experienced any issues thus far, Corsair insist you return the drive immediately.

Head on over to Corsair’s forums for more info on their remediation plan.

Kingston announce critical firmware update for V100 SSDs

Certain drives are hanging and failing to boot. A number of users are having issues with Kingston’s SSDNow V100 solid-state drives, although Kingston claims it’s a very small percentage. The problem is a failure to boot and hanging at the bios screen which can lead to drive failure.

The company released a firmware upgrade they recommend people apply immediately.

If you’re being affected by this issue or not, head on over to Kingston’s website and grab the updated firmware.

From Kingston:

We have discovered a technical issue with our SSDNow V100 which could result in drive failure. While we have observed this issue in only a small percentage of drives, Kingston strongly recommends that a firmware update be applied to all V100 drives to prevent possible failure.

The firmware update to fix the technical issue is available via Kingston Technical Support. As with any firmware update, we recommend that you back up your data prior to applying the firmware revision.

Intel launching 510 series SSDs on March 1st

Intel 510 Series SATA 6 Gb/s SSD

Intel is all set to launch its next-generation of performance SSDs. The 510 series is being aimed at PC enthusiasts and the gaming demographic that has money to burn. The 2.5″ 9.5mm HDDs will come in 2 separate capacities; 120 Gb and 250 Gb and will be Intel’s first 6 Gb/s SSDs.

But the real meat and gravy comes in the HDD specifications. These bad-boys will feature read speeds of up to 470 Mb/s and write speeds up to 315 Mb/s (surpassing the current SandForce drives). The 510 series SSDs will be priced $366 and $767 respectively, which puts them in the almost-but-not-quite insanely expensive bracket.

Silicon Power announce upcoming ultra-fast SSD’s

Silicon Power E20 256GB No release date or pricing has been revealed, but Silicon Power is lining up a new range of SSD’s called E20 which they say should surpass the read and write speed of current SSD’s on the market. The read speed listed in the press release is up to 250MB/s and write speeds up to 230MB/s. The extra speed is possible using proprietary technology from Silicon Power.

The 2.5” SATA solid state drive is designed for Windows 7 and quick start up times for the OS. The main features highlighted by Silicon Power are:

DDR2 DRAM Cache Memory Implementation
Users are most concerned with lag when using computers as it affects workflow and efficiency. With E20’s built-in DDR2 DRAM Cache Memory, even during continuous intensive-write situations, computers shall lag no more! This feature not only enhances SSD’s read and write performances, it also extends SSD’s lifespan.
Circuit Current Sensor
During read and write, users most dread irregular current supply resulting in data lost or corruption. Silicon Power’s E20 has specially added circuit current sensors to detect fluctuating or abnormal current to effectively protect your personal data!
S.M.A.R.T Support
Through Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.), user can monitor the health of E20.

The drive will come in the following capacities: 32GB/64GB/128GB/256GB. Alas there’s no date when the E20 will be available, or pricing details.

OCZ RevoDrive X2 PCI-Express SSD Review

OCZ RevoDrive PCI-Express SSD
Over the past several years, OCZ have transformed themselves from an enthusiast system memory brand into a recognized name for high-performance storage devices. They’ve earned consumer praise for their ability to deliver Solid State Drive technology at a reasonable price, and they push the boundaries with their High Speed Data Link project. There’s a solid middle ground between SATA and HSDL, and that’s the PCI Express bus. Not long ago Benchmark Reviews tested the SandForce-driven OCZ RevoDrive, and now we’re back with the high-level version of that product: OCZ RevoDrive X2. Now using four SF1200 SSDs in RAID-0, the RevoDrive X2 series is capable of up to 120,000 IOPS at speeds up to 740 MB/s.

Solid State Drive technology has become the high-performance option for SATA-drive upgrades, yet these ultra-fast NAND components are capable of so much more. Most computers are capable of offering 3.0 GB/s bandwidth via second-generation SATA controllers, which is fast enough for most general power-users. Although the latest desktop motherboards have incorporated third-generation SATA controllers good for up to 6.0 GB/s bandwidth, there’s currently only one SSD storage product capable of utilizing this speed (as of September 2010). PCI-Express is an ideal alternative, since it doesn’t require an add-on chip to support a new standard and still offers 5.0 GB/s bandwidth.

This is a guest article written by our content partners at Benchmarkreviews.com

Read on @ Benchmark Reviews

Tom’s Hardware and Zalman SSD giveaway

Zalman S-Series SSD

Everyone wants an SSD, but when they see the price-to-gigabyte ratio they usually run for the hills. If you’re feeling lucky, Tom’s Hardware are giving away a Zalman S-Series SSD. All you have to do is comment on their article, like Zalman’s Facebook page and like Tom’s Hardware’s Facebook page. Easy! And the competition is worldwide.

Bargain-bin SSD for $11,500

LSI WarpDrive SSD

LSI have released a new PCI Express solid state drive that might not be much to look at, but it has the potential to give you blisteringly fast throughput, while at the same time rendering you bankrupt. If you don’t mind taking out a second mortgage, the aptly titled WarpDrive promises up to 240,000 sustained IOPS (Input / Output Operations Per Second), with 1,400MBps sustained throughput.

According to LSI you would need 400 mechanical hard drives with 300 times the power to match this drive’s performance. It’s good to know if I ever win the Euro millions, I will have no trouble shaving large sums from the jackpot with expenditures like this.

How to get your old laptop infected with an SSD

Thinking of replacing your slow, mechanical laptop HDD with an SSD? Here is a short video from Corsair explaining just how easy it is. Basically if you can can upgrade your own ram then replacing a laptop hard drive should be easy as pie.

SSDs are becoming more and more affordable as time goes on, and small capacity 2.5″ SSDs are pretty much within most people’s reach at this stage. If you have a business laptop, with nothing more than an office suite, a few apps and your browser a 60, 40 or even 30GB SSD is the best friend you ever had.

Here’s a short list of low-capacity SSDs to give you an idea of the kind of choice that’s available if you’re thinking of upgrading the laptop.

Intel 40 GB X25-V Value SATA II MLC Solid-State Drive

OCZ Technology 30 GB Core Series V2 SATA II

OCZ Technology 30GB Vertex Turbo Series

OCZ Technology 30 GB Agility Series SATA II

OCZ Technology 30 GB Vertex Series SATA II

Kingston SSDNow V Series 64 GB SATA 3 GB/s

Corsair Force Series 40 GB SATA II 2.5-Inch

OCZ Technology Vertex 2 Series 40 GB SATA II

As you can see from this short list, there is no shortage of choice available for a budget SSD laptop upgrade. But it doesn’t have to end with your laptop, these 2.5″ SSDs will also fit nicely, with a little bracket into your PC tower. But a 3.5″ SSD is generally recommended for your desktop.

Free Ubisoft game download when you buy Intel solid state drives

Amazon have a special offer on two Intel solid state drives. Anyone who buys either the 160 GB X25-M Mainstream or the 80 GB X25M Mainstream will receive a free download of one of a selection of Ubisoft games.

The games are Far Cry 2, Assassins Creed II, RUSE, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas, Call of Juarez Bound in Blood and CSI: Deadly Intent.

To avail of the offer just buy the drive as usual on Amazon and they will email you 1-7 working days after it ships with instructions on how to download your game.

Hurry though, the offer ends on the 15th of September.

8 of the best SSDs for your gaming rig

Intel X25 E Extreme

They are smaller in size, have no moving parts, are much more durable, they cut boot-up/shutdown times in half, launch programs much faster and generally give your PC one of the biggest bumps in performance in recent memory.

But are SSD (or Solid State) drives worth forking out your hard-earned cash for that extra performance boost just yet?

My recent article on building your own gaming PC sparked a fury of debate on a number of websites precisely because I omitted an SSD from my build.

I’ve since done a little research and have compiled a list of 4 high-end SSDs and 4 more affordable models that won’t break the bank.
What mainly interested me when choosing these 8 drives was cost, hard drive capacity and read/write speeds.

Top of the range SSDs

The Intel X25E Extreme offers a low 64 GB of storage for a hefty $743.99.

Intel 64 GB X25E Extreme	Capacity	64 GB	$743.99
	Read speed	250 MB/s
	Write speed	170 MB/s

Complete spec sheet

Next let’s take a look at the OCZ 1 TB Colossus Series. This thing is a monster, especially the price.

OCZ Technology 1 TB Colossus Series	Capacity	1 TB	$4,290.99
	Read speed	Up to 260 MB/s
	Write speed	Up to 260 MB/s

Complete spec sheet

The Corsair 240 GB Force series comes in at a more affordable $644.78 and a decent 240GB capacity.

Corsair 240 GB Force Series	Capacity	240 GB	$644.78
	Read and write speed	Up to 285 MB/s
	Sustained write speeds	275 MB/s

Complete spec sheet

The Kingston SSDNow V+Series offers half a terabyte of storage but at a steep price.

Kingston SSDNow V+Series 512 GB	Capacity	512 GB	$1,393.72
	Read speed	230MB/sec
	Write speeds	180MB/sec

Complete spec sheet

Lower priced models

The Intel X25M Mainstream is low on storage (80GB) but is at a price point within the reach of most gamers I think.

Intel 80 GB X25M Mainstream	Capacity	80 GB	$199.99
	Read speed	Up to 250MB/sec
	Write speeds	Up to 70MB/sec

Complete spec sheet

OCZ’s lower end model offers a nice 120GB storage for an affordable $266.

OCZ Technology 120 GB Solid 2 Series Solid State Drive	Capacity	120 GB	$266.00
	Read speed	125 MB/sec
	Write speeds	100 MB/sec

Complete spec sheet

Kingston’s SSDnow Vseries offers 128GB at $226, offering better value than OCZ’s lower end model above.

Kingston SSDNow V Series 128 GB	Capacity	128 GB	$226.00
	Read speed	200MB/sec
	Write speeds	160MB/sec

Complete spec sheet

Corsair’s Performance Series offers 128 Gb for $299.99, the most expensive-per gigabyte of the lower end models we’ve spotlighted.

Corsair SATA II 3.0Gb/s 128 GB Performance Series	Capacity	128 GB	$299.99
	Read speed	200MB/sec
	Write speeds	160MB/sec

Complete spec sheet

In conclusion

The best value lower end model is the Kingston by at least $40, although the Intel Performance series model is the cheapest, but only offers 80GB of storage.

All in all, SSDs have come a long way in the past 3 years. We’ve seen the price come down considerably but for many gamers the amount of gigabytes you get for your buck still isn’t worth their hard-earned Dollar. What do you think of SSDs? Do you own one yourself? How have you found the performance gains? Any regrets in buying one? Maybe you’ve bought 2 for a RAID-0 setup?

Let us know your experience with SSDs or your intentions (if any) to invest in these drives for a future or current games machine.