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CRYSTAL DISK BENCHMARK VER. 3.0 X64
Crystal Disk Benchmark is used to measure read and write performance through sampling of raw (0/1 Fill) or random data. As we have discussed previously, comparing the results of Crystal tests in random data sampling between drives that use compression in storage (SandForce) compared to those that do not (Intel/Crucial/Samsung) portrays a result not cognizant with the drives ability. Our initial discussion with SandForce supports this theory but we have gone a step further to verify such. In our own testing, we compared Crystal random sample results to those of PCMark Vantage and the results clearly showed the Crystal random sample scores of SandForce drives are simply not a realistic depiction of the drives ability.
For this reason we prefer to test SandForce drives with 0Fill data while using Crystal:
The high sequentials have dropped a bit in these tests but the characteristic we are going to be looking at here are the 4k random results. The 4k random write disk access method is the most frequently used in your PC use and responsible for the most visible upgrade in your system.
Our recommendation, in fact, is that the one thing you want to know before buying your SSD is the 4k random write performance score. Lets once again do a little hierarchy placement between the SATA 3 drives we have tested. To alleviate any concerns for those more experienced readers, the 4k results are the same in Crystal testing regardless of whether one uses 0Fill (raw) data or random data which validates our below findings.
OWC had superior scores in this and their PCMark Vantage results were evident as originally seen in the OCZ review. It was unexpected initially to see a non-SandForce controlled drive place so well as did the Crucial M4 with 71MB/s 4k random writes but both OWC 6G drives are pulling at its tail with virtually identical read and write results.
Keep these scores in mind and you just may see how they fare when we do our PCMark Vantage testing.
Pg1 – INTRODUCTION
PG2 – INTERIOR COMPONENTS AND TEST METHODOLOGY
PG3 – ATTO DISK BENCHMARK SATA 3 SSD COMPARISON
PG4 – CRYSTAL DISKMARK SATA 3 SSD COMPARISON
PG5 – AS SSD BENCHMARK AND VERTEX 3 SIMILARITIES
PG6 – HDTUNE PRO TESTING
PG7 – PCMARK VANTAGE SATA 3 SSD COMPARISON AND FINAL THOUGHTS