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The SSD Review uses benchmark software called PCMark Vantage x64 HDD Suite to create testing scenarios that might be used in the typical user experience. There are eight tests in all and the tests performed record the speed of data movement in MB/s to which they are then given a numerical score after all of the tests are complete. The simulations are as follows:
- Windows Defender In Use
- Streaming Data from storage in games such as Alan Wake which allows for massive worlds and riveting non-stop action
- Importing digital photos into Windows Photo Gallery
- Starting the Vista Operating System
- Home Video editing with Movie Maker which can be very time-consuming
- Media Center which can handle video recording, time shifting and streaming from Windows media center to an extender such as XBox
- Cataloging a music library
- Starting applications
IOSWITCH RAIJIN M.2 PCIE SSD PCMARK VANTAGE RESULTS
The ioSwitch Raijin came through Vantage testing with a high of 90341 which is what we expected, although we thought that tests HDD 7 and 8 were a bit low. Realizing a transfer speed of 549MB/s, when testing in Windows Media Center, was pretty impressive and could never be done with a typical notebook SSD.
Having tested a few M.2 SSDs in both the SATA 3 and PCIe interface, we thought it might be interesting to put together a bit of a chart and include our most powerful SATA 3 SSD as a point of measure:
Taking a look at the same performance in IOPS, things change just a bit. We were surprised at how low the RAID volume fared, but not nearly as much as how high the MBA IOPS performance was.
REPORT ANALYSIS AND FINAL THOUGHTS
The ioSwitch Raijin M.2 PCIe SSD solution is a an unexpected surprise at a time when so many are looking for M.2 SSDs to upgrade recent system purchases where value meant low capacity M.2 SSD choice. The ioSwitch Raijin is anything but a simple SSD, its end result being the product of great teamwork between Marvell, Plextor and ioSwitch. Not only do we get our first official look at the new Plextor M6e PCIe X2 M.2 SSD, but also, we get to realize a totally new SSD feature where separate BIOS and boot instructions are contained within the controller and firmware of the SSD itself.
Albeit the adapter is a straight forward PCIe 3.0 X4 adapter, having the Plextor M6e M.2 PCIe SSD contained opens up a ton of new possibilities. ioSwitch has now taken what might have been a simple M.2 SSD and created a product that enables just about every modern PC or Mac desktop the opportunity to start and perform at PCIe performance, breaking the SATA bottleneck. ioSwitch may have just stumbled across a product that will open the eyes of millions of media professionals using both Mac and PC systems.
On the other side of things, it is only fair to state that ioSwitch is a brand new company who has just started selling the Raijin on their website. Although it doesn’t presently show PC compatibility, every component in this solution speaks to just that and, as always, our main system just became the test bed for its first M.2 PCIe SSD. The ioSwitch Raijin was a simple plug, play and reboot process followed by system migration, to which we were up and running. It’s performance comes in at the specs of the Plextor M6e with over 750MB/s speeds, albeit we have to give a heads up to anyone considering a 128GB version as write speeds drop to low 330MB/s and this is the norm for all similar M.2 SSDs.
Price and availability are probably the ‘Achilles Heal’ of the ioSwitch Raijin now as this solution is available only on-line through similar report links and we presently see pricing listed at $471 (128GB). $858 (256GB) and $1855(512GB) which places it in the class of extremely niche products. Increased availability, lower pricing, as well as a five-year warranty vice three, and the ioSwitch Raijin could become a huge success with proven reliability down the road. No matter how you cut it up, this product is an ideal candidate for our Innovation Award!
Check Out ioSwitch for Additional Information.
Great review Les. So how is this product different to combining say the Plextor M.2 and one of the Bplus or M.2 Enabler cards. Do the latter cards also allow the system to boot, or is this something new that only this ioSwitch Raijin card can do?
We tried the SSD in several cards and regardless, it will boot. We have also confirmed this to be a customized SSD that will allow it. The SSD is bootable, not the card.
So any other generic ssd in the Asus impact motherboards onboard connector would not be bootable?
Not quite. If the M.2 host is built into the motherboard, you can believe that they have taken this into account. This design was a custom build to ensure this SSD has very wide compatibility in systems, such as the Mac Pr desktop, which has traditionally been used by media professionals who can use this specific performance upgrade.
Man….can’t wait for Tosh to start using the Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller now that they own Ocz…pretty sure it’ll smoke the Marvell controller they’re using. Plextor may end up the main and/or exclusive source of future BF3 based ssds…hmmm
Hey! Very informative! Plenty of images, links, and explanations.
Unfortunately, I cannot afford anything like this yet. Thus, having to buy an SSD, I shall go for either SATA or mSATA. I am still puzzled, though, as to which is the best choice. Which of the two will give me the highest performance?
mSATA and SATA SSDs will provide the same performance for the most part, however understanding your systems configuration is crucial. Many mSATA buyers have been disappointed to learn their mSATA slots on their motherboards, or in portables, was SATA 2 and not 3.
Which motherboards allow the best performance for this concept?
Any motherboard with an available PCIe V2 slot available should suffice…including Mac systems.
could anybody tell me if this would work on a macbook pro 2015 version?
thanks