Sanity test

The desktop OS used in our subjective test is an image installation from a previous SSD, and also will not run the boot racer software. However, it runs 60 processes with Opera and Live Writer opened, however heavy multi-tasking can jump that number by 50%.

Performance was quick and responsive throughout daily usage. Windows boot time compared to previous SSD install was not measurable, unfortunately, but still had a very quick feel. Installing a fresh OS to it on another PC was blisteringly fast. Moving back to a mechanical drive after being spoiled by the Vertex 3 MAX IOPS for OS is torture.

In an effort to represent performance factors, after subjective testing was completed, the drive was filled to within 8GB of its capacity. AIDA read test suite and a quick random write test to destroy the partition was done.

The testing reveals that while performance had certainly taken a small hit in performance, overall, it still appeared to be in good shape. Read tests took hardly any hit, and random write had a couple of spikes that were absurdly low, but average performance dropped less than 10%.

ATTO and CDM tests of course post near secure erased levels.

To really make a worst case scenario, the drive was not secure erased, but only quick formatted and benched again, this time ATTO and CDM Random Data tests should show a large difference.

ATTO results were unexpectedly good, nearly the same as secure erase results. The 4K QD=32 test in CDM took a big hit, dropping to 140 MB write speed. Reads remained close. AIDA read test suite showed performance drop to 333 MBps at the start, although mid and end range remained unaffected. The random write was utterly terrible, bouncing between 310 MBps all the way down to 35 MBps, pulling out an average speed of 133 MBps.

However, this test is extreme and is meant to show the SandForce’s weakness, and is definitely not something expected on a daily cruiser.

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