OCZ Octane 512GB Review

Testing:

Testing of hard drives can be done in several different ways – one method involves leaving the drive bare and connecting it as a secondary drive in an existing system. By simultaneously cleaning the drive after each benchmark run-through, this allows you to see its theoretical peaks in performance. However, these results would only represent a best-case scenario – one that you may never see unless operating a bare drive. The second method, which OverclockersClub employs, involves loading the operating system and benchmarking suite onto the test drive itself. This would give performance results that emulate real-world usage more closely. Testing will be completed with the P67-based system listed below, alongside a fresh install of Windows 7 Professional 64-bit that is updated to SP1 and fully patched as of the date of testing. The latest Intel Rapid Storage technology drivers and software have also been installed. All tests are conducted with the drive connected to a native SATA III 6 Gb/s port on the motherboard, in an effort to eliminate any possible bottlenecks with performance.

Testing Setup:

• Processors: Core i7 2600K @ 3.4 GHz 100 x 34
• CPU Cooling: Corsair Hydro Series H100
• Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme
• Memory: Mushkin  Redline PC317000 9-11-10-27 1866 MHz 8 GB
• Video Card: XFX Radeon HD6970
• Power Supply: Corsair AX1200
• Hard Drive: OCZ Octane 512GB
• Optical Drive: Lite-On Blu-Ray
• Case: Corsair Graphite Series 600T
• OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Comparison Drives:

• Intel 520 Series 240GB
• Mushkin Callisto 240 GB
• Corsair Performance Pro 3 256GB
• Corsair Force GT 120 GB
• Seagate Barracuda XT 1 TB
• Mushkin Io 128 GB SSD
• OCZ Vertex 3 240 GB
• Patriot Wildfire 120 GB
• Patriot Pyro 120 GB
• Patriot Pyro SE 120 GB
• Patriot Pyro SE 240 GB
• Seagate Momentus 750 GB Hybrid Drive

Benchmarks:

• Drive Tests:

1. HD Tune 4.60 Pro
2. HD Tach
3. SiSoft Sandra 2012
4. Crystal Disk Mark
5. ATTO Disk Benchmark
6. AS SSD
7. I/O Meter
8. PCMark Vantage
9. Windows Startup / Shutdown