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PCMARK VANTAGE HDD SUITE
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
TEST RESULTS
The PCMark Vantage x64 HDD Suite provided us with an overall score of 29133 points which surpassed that of the recently reviewed Super Talent UltraDrive MX 480GB SSD with the same controller (24764). The chart below depicts comparison tests with other ssds as well as a hard drive which shows just how this drive stands up against the competition.
We can see just how much performance has stepped up from the hard drive and how close the Zalman S-Series SSD is to the Intel, still considered by many to be one of the top SSDs available.
CONCLUSIONS
In consideration of SandForces announcement of their soon to be released SF-2000 SATA 3 processor, the Zalman S-Series 128GB SSD is a great entry but they are going to have to swim hard to stay afloat. If we could find anything lacking, it might be that we think the SSD manufacturers should be including the 3.5″ drive adapters within each and every package since it is of little to no cost to them.
In considering ones migration from a hard drive to a solid state drive, there are two things which the buyer needs to know. The largest visible performance is determined by the access time and 4kb random write disk access. The typical hard drive has a disk access of 9.2 seconds which is 90 times slower than a solid state drive. Our Samsung 1.5TB hard drive which was purchased less than a year ago has a 4k random write speed of 0.89MB/s which is 55 times slower than the Zalman S-Series 128GB SSD.
The price point of the Zalman comes in at $1.70/GB which brings it well below the $2/GB that most have been looking for and leaves us with an SSD that is both affordable and a visibly amazing performance upgrade. When you add the fact that Zalman has included easy migration for the user, the mini-USB which makes this SSD even more versatile and a 3 year warranty, the Zalman S-Series 128GB solid state drive is a winner in our books!
Pg1 – Introduction
Pg2 – Test Protocol and Crystal BenchMarks
Pg3 – BenchMarks
Pg4 – Vantage Comparison and Conclusions