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Review: OCZ Vertex 3.20 240GB SSD

Reviewed by: Wendy

Robertson

Provided by: OCZ Technology

Model: VTX3-25SAT3-240G.20

Firmware version: 2.30 ADVERTISEMENT

Back in July 2011, Myce was very fortunate to be able to

bring you one of the very first reviews of the OCZ Vertex 3 SSD. It was the

very first SSD to be launched that contained the SandForce SF-2281 SSD

controller, and brought about unheard of performance at the time. SandForce hasn’t

updated the SSD controller hardware since then, but has most certainly changed

since 2011, as SandForce are now owned by LSI, and the SF-2281 firmware has

certainly matured.

While the SSD controller may be getting a little bit long in

the tooth, it still packs a mighty punch, as it still knows how to look after

its NAND, and it has one of the very best write amplification specifications to

this day.

OCZ are never ones to miss an opportunity. Take a mature SSD

controller which is known to make its NAND last, and then match that controller

to the very latest in NAND technology, IMFT 20nm MLC NAND. What you end up with

is a mainstream/budget SSD which can still compete head on performance wise

with many of the newer breed of SSD controllers, and at a price point which

rivals TLC NAND based SSDs.

OCZ were kind enough to send me a review sample of their new

Vertex 3.20 SSD, which is basically a Vertex 3 with 20nm IMFT MLC NAND. The

review sample they sent was the 240GB version, but OCZ also offers a 120GB

version of the Vertex 3.20. So let’s find out how the Vertex 3.20 performs in

this review.

OCZ Technology company information

OCZ should need no introduction, but those of you who would

like to find out more about OCZ Technology, can do so at their website.

The OCZ Vertex 3.20 – 240GB SSD

Now it’s time to take a look at the drive itself and what it

came shipped with.

Packaging

The SSD I received was a retail unit, so let’s start first with

the packaging.



Box front



Box rear

Inside the box



The complete package

The OCZ Vertex 3.20 package contained the OCZ Vertex 3.20 240GB

SSD itself, quick installation booklet, warranty information, and an ‘I love my

SSD’ sticker.



Drive bottom

On the underside of the SSD, I found a label which displays

the SSD model number, storage capacity, and indicates that the SSD was

manufactured in Taiwan.

The case itself is 9mm thick and designed to be housed in a

standard 2.5 inch drive bay, or a 3.5 inch drive bay using a 3.5 inch to 2.5

inch converter bracket.

Now let’s head to the next page, where we look in more

detail at the OCZ Vertex 3.20 SSD…..