How we test
| Storage drive | Corsair Nova V128 | Corsair Extreme X128 | OCZ Vertex | Seagate Barracuda XT 2TB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive capacity | 128GB | 128GB | 128GB | 2,000GB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drive firmware | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.30 | CC12 |
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| Approx. price at time of writing | £293 | £293 | £295 | £215 |
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| Approx price per GB | 2.29 |
2.29 |
2.30 |
0.107 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7 965 Extreme Edition (3.20GHz, 8MB L3 cache, quad-core, LGA1366 - Turbo Boost on) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motherboard | ASUS P6X58D Premium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BIOS revision | 0703 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memory | 6GB Crucial DDR3-1,066 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Host hard drive | Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics Card | Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 1,024MB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mainboard software | Intel 9.1.1.1025 |
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| Graphics driver | Catalyst 10.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSU | Corsair HX1000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating System | Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tests
| Benchmarks | CrystalDiskMark 3.0 beta
3 HDTach 3.0.1.0 PCMark Vantage 1.0.2.0 File copy test (8.83GB, 544 files) Windows 7 booting test Crysis level-loading test (train) |
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Setup notes
To give some idea of basic performance, we're comparing the Corsair Nova V128 to a same-sized X128 that also features an Indilinx controller. OCZ's Vertex makes it a trio of Indilinx-powered SSDs, and we've also thrown in a 2TB mechanical HDD from Seagate for good measure, too.
Firmware 1.0 was used for the Corsair Nova, together with the latest available for the other drives. We used the garbage collection tool on the Vertex before benchmarking.
We use a Seagate 1TB mechanical
hard drive, and it houses the
operating system. The benchmarked drives are connected to the
motherboard's SATA 6Gbps controller and used as secondary/storage
mediums.
CrystalDiskMark provides throughput data based on sequential reads and
writes, and random (512K/4K) reads and writes. We've used the default
1,000MB file-size for the tests.
PCMark Vantage spits out a bunch of data on the relative speed of the drive(s) when undertaking common tasks.
The file copy test involves copying 8.83GB of data back on to a different folder on the same partition, stressing the read/write ability of the drive.
HD Tach's
full variable-zone
read/write test is used to write to the drive(s)' blocks and therefore
bring the benefits efficient garbage recycling into play. We run this
test first to mimic the wear a drive is likely to have during
day-to-day operations.
Copying an exact image on to the test drives and using them as the main
boot storage, we time how long it takes
to load Windows 7 and, once within the operating system, the train
level within Crysis, as used in our graphics-card tests.
