Intel Z68 Chipset & Smart Response Technology
Test System & Methodology
Legit Reviews Test System
All tests were performed on a fresh and up-to-date install of Windows 7 Pro x64 with no other applications running while using AHCI (or RAID in the case of SRT) mode set through the BIOS. In between every test, save for the multiple runs, the drive was secure erased using Parted Magic. As such, all results should be indicative of optimal performance. All components were set to their default speeds and are listed below. We’d like to thank ASUS again for their generosity and support in providing the motherboard for our test bench.
Z68 Test Bench
| Intel LGA 1155 Test Platform | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Brand/Model | Live Pricing | |||
|
Processor |
Core i5 2500k | ||||
|
Motherboard |
ASUS P8Z68-V Pro | ||||
|
Memory |
Crucial 2 x 2GB PC3-10600 | ||||
|
Video Card |
Gigabyte GeForce GT 430 | ||||
|
Main OS Drive |
Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB | ||||
|
Cache drive #1 |
Intel 510 Series 250GB | ||||
|
Cache Drive #2 |
OCZ Vertex 30GB | ||||
|
Power Supply |
Corsair HX1000 | ||||
|
Operating System |
Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit | ||||
Comparison Drives & Other Models We Have Tested
For the testing we also used an Intel 510 Series 250GB to represent the newer generation of SSDs and a original OCZ Vertex 30GB to represent the older generation of drives. This gives us a good idea how well different generations of drives perform with SRT. Below is a table of SSDs we have tested for reference.
| SSD MODEL |
CONTROLLER(S) | TRIM Support? |
| Crucial m4/Micron C400 256GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes |
| Intel 320 Series 128GB |
Intel PC29AS21BA0 (G3 firmware) | Yes |
| Corsair Performance 3 Series 128GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes |
| Intel 510 Series 250GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes |
| Plextor M2 Series 128GB |
Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes |
| Kingston V100 Series 128GB |
JMicron JMF618 (Toshiba branded) | Yes |
| OCZ Vertex 3 Pro 200GB (beta) | SandForce SF-2500 (SF-2582) | Yes |
| RunCore Pro V 120GB |
SandForce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Samsung 470 Series 256GB |
Samsung S3C29MAX01-Y340 | Yes |
| Zalman N Series 128GB | SandForce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Kingston V+100 128GB | Toshiba T6UG1XBG | Yes |
| Corsair Force 40GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Intel X25-V 40GB | Intel PC29AS21BA0 (G2 firmware) | Yes |
| G.Skill Phoenix Pro | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Patriot Inferno 100GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| OCZ RevoDrive X2 240GB SSD | (4X) Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | No* |
| OCZ RevoDrive 120GB SSD | (2X) Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | No* |
| ADATA S596 128GB | JMicron JMF612 | Yes |
| Corsair Force Series 120GB | Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Patriot Zephyr 128GB | JMICRON JMF612 | Yes |
| Patriot Torqx 128GB | Indilinx Barefoot | Yes |
| Kingston 30GB V Series SNV125-S2 |
Toshiba T6UG1XBG | Yes |
| Kingston 128GB V Series SNV425-S2 |
JMICRON JMF618 | Yes |
| Corsair Force Series 100GB |
Sandforce SF-1200 (SF-1222) | Yes |
| Corsair Nova Series 128GB |
Indilinx Barefoot | Yes |
| Intel X25-M 160GB G2 SSD |
Intel PC29AS21BA0 (G2 firmware) | Yes |
| Micron RealSSD C300 (6Gbps) 256GB | Marvell 88SS9174 | Yes |
| * TRIM is not supported due to the RAID controller. | ||
Testing the Smart Response Technology is a little different animal than our normal storage tests. Since the mechanism builds a cache on the faster SSD drive based on files used, several iterations of tests were required to see the full effect. In general, after the second run, scores didn’t improve or only minimally so our results show the results for the first and second passes of the tests only. Got it? OK them, on to the benchmarks!
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