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
If you are new to testing and considering benchmark software, this is the best you can get because the program goes well beyond the results of simulated testing as we have already done. In comparing SATA 2.0 SSDs, we have reached the bandwidth limit and the performance of most new SATA 2 SSDs is as high as it can get with typical high sequential access speeds in the area of 280MB/s read and 270MB/s write. This observation can again be seen with drives of different manufacturers that utilize similar components within and have very similar specifications.
We needed a way to differentiate these drives and to find a method that can actually put one drive above another and this is exactly what Vantage testing does. Its tests combined can provide an accurate comparison between drives and its tests individually can assist a smart shopper in finding the best SSD for their needs. Next to actual true to life testing which can take an insurmountable length of time, PCMark Vantage is the only program that can compare any SSD, side by side, regardless of SATA interface or controller in use.
SUPER TALENT TERADRIVE CT3 SATA 3 120GB SSD VANTAGE RESULTS
The CT3 pulled off an incredible Vantage result of 65356 total points with a transfer speed high in Media Player operation of 409MB/s. Not only is this score the highest we have had for a SSD using ‘async’ NAND flash memory to date, but also, its Vantage total surpasses that of the Corsair Force GT and OCZ MaxIOPS 120GB SSDs that utilize the more expensive premium NAND flash memory, albeit it by a very small margin. Here are the results:
Lets put this into perspective with an update to our SSD Hierarchy Chart:
Thats an absolute amazing result from a ‘SandForce Driven’ SSD utilizing asynchronous NAND flash memory.
Great review. I got to get me one of these.