OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid 1TB PCI-E SSD Review

Test System and Setup

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 mode set through the BIOS. In between every test, the test drives were secure erased using an instance of Parted Magic or the OCZ secure erase tool in their toolbox. As such, all results should be indicative of optimal performance. All components were set to their default speeds and are listed below. As always, we’d like to thank ASUS 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	Click Here
Motherboard	ASUS P8Z68-V Pro	Click Here
Memory	Crucial 2 x 2GB PC3-10600	Click Here
Video Card	Gigabyte GeForce GT 430	Click Here
HDD OS Drive	WD VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB	Click Here
SRT Cache drive	Intel 510 Series 250GB	Click Here
SSD OS Drive	OCZ Agility 240GB	Click Here
Power Supply	Corsair HX1000	Click Here
Operating System	Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit	Click Here

RevoDrive Hybrid Setup

While you can use the drive as a non-OS drive, you cannot do so in the RAID configuration as designed. If you try, the software will use your primary OS drive instead of using the Hybrids own 1TB hard drive. So the only thing that makes sense to use it for is the OS drive unless you like wasting money. When installing windows, you’ll need to install the driver that can be found on OCZ’s product page. Once Windows is installed, you can install the Dataplex software that will create the RAID array to kick things in high gear. This is also found on the product page.

To download the software, you’ll need the license activation key that’s found on a sticker affixed to the back of the drive.

Before we get to the rest of the installation, we’ll note that at this point you can secure erase the SSD portion of the drive. When it’s new, that’s not really necessary but down the road, things may slow a little and a secure erase to reset the drive may be in order. To do so, you’ll have to uninstall the Dataplex software which will uncouple the drives. This will require a reboot and a lengthy wait while the drive sorts things out (this was a pain for benchmarking!). Once rebooted, the SSD drive will show in the OCZ tool as above and a secure erase is possible. The downside of doing all of this, besides the time spent, is that you’ll have to build a whole new catalog of ‘hot’ data all over again.

When installing the Dataplex software, you simply select the, as of now, two distinct drives on the RevoDrive Hybrid as shown above. If you have other drives connected to the system, they may show up so be careful what you choose or disconnect all other drives before beginning.

At this point you receive an obligatory warning about data loss should you pair it with a potential cache drive already containing data (see above paragraph – be careful!). In no time at all, the configuration is ready for use. Quick and painless.

And away we go! On to the benchmarks.