OCZ RevoDrive X2 100GB PCI Express Hard Drive Review

Testing:

Now we can get to the part everyone has been waiting for, including myself! To test the RevoDrive X2 100GB, I installed it into the PCI Express x4 slot on the M4A89GTD PRO/USB motherboard running version 1606 for the BIOS. I used a clean install of Windows 7 Professional 64-bit and updated the OS before performing any of the benchmarks. All the tests for the RevoDrive X2 and the comparison drives were performed with the same updated fresh install of Windows 7 so you can get a real world look at the performance while using it as a boot drive. For the comparison drives, I included the original RevoDrive 50GB drive, several SandForce SF-1200 based drives, and a few Indilix based drives to show the differences. I also included a comparison RAID array made up of two SandForce SF-1222 based solid state drives running RAID-0 using the onboard controller running through the SB850 chipset of the motherboard. Throughout the testing, all the hardware remained at the same speeds, timings, voltages, and latencies to keep any variables from interfering with the scores.

Testing Setup:

• Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965
• Cooling: Noctua NH-U12P SE
• Motherboard: ASUS M4A89GTD Pro/USB3 BIOS 1606
  
• Memory: Mushkin Blackline 996744 DDR3-1600MHz 8-8-8-24
• Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 5870
• Power Supply: Mushkin XP-800AP 800W PSU
• HDD: OCZ RevoDrive 50GB
• Optical Drive: LG Supermulti DVD-R/W
• OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Comparison Drives:

• Comparison Drive: OCZ RevoDrive 50GB
• Comparison RAID: 2x SandForce SF-1222 based 120GB SSDs
• Comparison Drive: Patriot Inferno 120GB
• Comparison Drive: Mushkin Callisto 120GB
• Comparison Drive: OCZ Vertex 2 120GB
  
• Comparison Drive: Patriot Torqx 64GB
• Comparison Drive: Corsair Nova 128GB
• Comparison Drive: Seagate 750GB 7200.11 HDD
• Comparison Drive: Seagate Momentus XT 500GB Hybrid

Benchmarks:

• Drive Tests:

1. HD Tune 3.50 Pro
2. HD Tach
3. SiSoft Sandra 2009
4. Crystal Disk Mark
5. ATTO Disk Benchmark
6. AS SSD
7. I/O Meter
8. PCMark Vantage
9. Windows Startup / Shutdown