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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/compressible) or random data which is, for the most part, incompressible. Many new SandForce Driven SSD owners who cant wait to test the performance of their SSD often grab this program and run a quick test, not realizing that they are testing with incompressible data rather than compressible data used in testing by manufacturers. We have provided compressible (oFill) results on the left with incompressible (random data) results on the right.
We were a bit curious just how mixing the older SandForce SF-1222 processor with newer 25nm asynchronous NAND flash memory was going to result and the result on the right is very close to what we expected. The performance of the asynchronous memory is evident on the right through the lower write results of 130 and 132MB/s while the lower 4k random write result of 40MB/s is indicative of the SF-1222 processor.
Up until recently, AS SSD was the only benchmark created specifically for SSD testing and it uses incompressible data. AS SSD, for the most part, gives us the worst case scenario in SSD transfer speeds while using SandForce Driven SSDs as they use compression in storage as discussed earlier. Many enthusiasts like to benchmark with AS SSD for their needs.
In comparing Crystal DiskMark to AS SSD, the AS SSD results always tend to be lower as AS SSD provides the average of the tests conducted, whereas Crystal posts the highest result reached. AS SSD Copy Benchmark provides a bit more of a realistic view as seen here:
AS SSD Copy BenchMark simulates the copying of an iso, program and game from one location to another and provides the highest transfer speeds and time it took to complete the transfer. These results are significantly higher than we actually expected which is great.
The Compression Benchmark is typical of what we see with SandForce drives where they start low and then peak much higher and in the range somewhat in the area of specifications, remembering again that this drive was simply ripped out of Super Talents display test bench at CeBIT.
Does the card support trim? What are the onboard LEDs used for? IO status or error indicators? Is there any DRAM cache on the board?
Just as has always been the case with every PCIe card or RAID 0 config, the board does not support TRIM. Stated that the LED lights are for activity and not for error and there has never been DRAM cache used by SF processors which is why it is not mentioned.
Thanks ahead.
so you cant secure erase the drive? also good 4k cmd results for a a single sf 1222 drive are much higher so its really not indicative of the sf 1222. what it is showing is the effects of no TRIM which is played out in the vantage results.
Les, is this by chance the card that we were guessing as to its manufacturer,etc. back in October/November from the pics you posted?
What is of further interest to me is the cards operating temperature range, power consumption, error correction abilities and data longevity. I’m not at all interested in a light show and can’t understand how anyone could find it interesting looking at the insides of a computer case as it it was a feature film. Seriously, doing so must get old very quickly and if this is the focus of the hardware design at the expense of the previously mentioned issues, then it’s indded a sad state.
Why did they go with this old Sandforce controller?
I am told value.
I don’t think they can put low enough price tag on it. Compare it to Plextor you reviewed earlier, it beats upstream almost in every situation and Vanatage shows it perfectly. And if you add more complexity with all that RAID stuff (more danger of failure, no TRIM etc) that’s getting really sad.
Upstream can only be used by those who need to sequentially read huge files and that’s a rare case, cause usually there’s another bottleneck.
The only positive thing is Super Talent steps into interesting market and could encourage other manufacturers to do so.
Good review, thanks.