OCZ’s RevoDrive X2: When A Fast PCIe SSD Isn’t Fast Enough

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In a storage market where it's easiest to take one vendor's controller, another vendor's NAND flash, and put the two in a standard 2.5" SATA drive, OCZ continues innovating, giving IT professionals and power users more performance with its RevoDrive X2.

Benchmark Results: I/O Performance

In talking to OCZ about its target for the RevoDrive X2, the company is adamant that a PCI Express-based SSD is appropriate anywhere I/O performance is taxed. And it’s easy to see why that recommendation makes sense.

Although average IOPS don’t scale linearly, there’s a clear progression from one SandForce controller to two and then to four. And while the RevoDrive X2 and IBIS are configured similarly, the native PCI Express-based board delivers slightly better performance in the database and file server benchmark patterns.  

The same holds true in our Web server test in Iometer. Here, though, Intel’s X25-M 160 GB edges out OCZ’s Vertex 2 120 GB.

A workstation-oriented workload completes the RevoDrive X2’s chart-topping showing here. In each test case, the PCIe board outmaneuvers the HSDL-attached IBIS, demonstrates a significant advantage over the two-controller RevoDrive, and an even more commanding lead over a standard SF-1200-based 2.5” SSD.

Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini is an Editor Emeritus at Tom's Hardware US. He edits hardware reviews and covers high-profile CPU and GPU launches.
47 Comments Comment from the forums
  • joelmartinez
    Too much money :( will get the vertex 3 though :) or intel
    Reply
  • alikum
    If only they could make SSDs cheaper ... Mechanical drives are still the way to go
    Reply
  • eklipz330
    although i think sandforce's new controller won't be as fast as they claim, i really think it's gonna change the face of the ssd race by the end of the year

    and probably a new iteration of the revodrive as well... can't wait!! =D =D i need me a 160gb for less than $1/gb... that's how much i bought my raptor for like 4 years ago!!
    Reply
  • dauthus
    In related news, OCZ stock is up to $6.80 a share, rising 19%+ today.
    Reply
  • How does this compare to the new Z-drive R3?
    Reply
  • cmi86
    Yeah its really cool and i wish i had 1...or 2 lol but it just costs waay too much money, isnt really practical for enthusiast use until the prices drop
    Reply
  • dirtmountain
    You routinely use $500 graphic cards (GTX580) and $1,200 displays (2560x1600)in reviews. The price for this upgrade ($650)isn't any harder to stomach then those.
    Reply
  • cangelini
    dirtmountainYou routinely use $500 graphic cards (GTX580) and $1,200 displays (2560x1600)in reviews. The price for this upgrade ($650)isn't any harder to stomach then those.
    Aye, but it's a little less tangible than exotic graphics configurations, too.
    Reply
  • razor512
    a pci-e ssd seems good, I want one, MS word will run sooo much better
    Reply
  • alidan
    i realy wish they would put a 7200 10000 and 15000 drive in there, all top of their respective class, just so we can get some prospective of how much an improvement these are over traditional hdds.
    Reply