Introduction, Packaging and Specifications

We have been promised PCI Express-based solid state drives almost since SSDs were first introduced and while we have had a few pass through our hands, not many have TRULY been prepared for the consumer. OCZ has been a force of change for enthusiasts in this market and they continue to be just that by releasing the new Revo PCIe SSD!


Introduction:
 
Yesterday we received a pre-production sample of the new OCZ RevoDrive for evaluation.  This is an entirely new product for OCZ, placing a pair of SandFocre controllers (lifted from their Vertex 2 line of SSD’s) behind an integraged RAID solution, all packaged neatly on a single PCIe 4x full height card.

OCZ RevoDrive 240GB PCIe SSD Full Performance Review - Storage 44

Here it is, in the flesh!

So, what should I put this yummy piece of storage gear up against?  Hmm…

OCZ RevoDrive 240GB PCIe SSD Full Performance Review - Storage 45

A pair of ioXtreme’s and an ioDrive!

Packaging:

We may as well compare the packaging of all solutions:

OCZ RevoDrive 240GB PCIe SSD Full Performance Review - Storage 46

From left: ioDrive 160, ioXtreme 80, ioXtreme Pro 80, RevoDrive 240

Specifications:
  • Capacity: 120GB / 240GB
  • Flash type: MLC
  • Interface: PCIe 4x (Gen. 1)
  • Max read: 540 MB/sec
  • Max write: 480 MB/sec
  • Sustained write: 400 MB/sec
  • 4KB random write (aligned): 75,000 IOPS
  • Seek time: 0.1 ms
  • Power consumption: Idle 3W / Active 8W
And now for the ringer:
  • BOOTABLE (!)
Other PCIe SSD solutions out there are not bootable (most notable the Fusion-IO line of SSD’s).  Since the RevoDrive builds on a simple RAID controller, it sees the same benefits, such as a low footprint driver that can be executed by the Windows installation environment, enabling windows to be installed directly on the RevoDrive itself!.

Read on for the full review as these drives duke it out in true celebrity deathmatch fashion!
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