MLC High Performance SSD-CORSAIR Performance Series 128GB PC/NB Dual Platform Test

New storage device, I believe most people will think of SSD first.
SSD full name is Solid-State Drive.
SSD is very popular in the past 2 years. It also breaks the performance barrier for NoteBook.
Most SSD key features are light, power saving, higher performance and secure data protection.
However, SSD price is much higher and less capacity than traditional HDD.

I still remember that before 1H 2009, SSD focused on performance and capacity improvement.
But the price was not big change. Mainstream 64GB SSD price was around 200USD.
Also, the MLC performance was reading at 200~220 MB/s and writing at 150~180 MB/s.
Recently, I saw some non-SAMSUNG SSD controller can enhance MLC performance.

USA famous Memory manufacturer, CORSAIR, also announced many SSD products these 2 years.
So far you can find 6 models CORSAIR SSD and the capacity are from 32 to 512GB.
Also, there are Performance/Force/Reactor/Nova/Extreme/Legacy series for users to choose.
This time I got is CMFSSD-128GBG2D. It belongs to Performance series and 128GB. 2 years warranty.

CORSAIR P128 SSD packing


It’s 2.5 inches. Product ID is P128. 2 years warranty. Official spec is 220/180 MB/s
Built-in 128MB DRAM as buffer cache.
The key differences between P128 and P64 are capacity and slower writing speed as 64GB spec is 220/120 MB/s.


Metal case with hairline brushed finish. It makes look and texture being better.
Official data shows the weight is 80g which is lighter than 2.5” HDD.


Backside with SAMSUNG warranty sticker


SATA connector supports SATAII and compatible with PC and NB.


Weight by electronic scale/
CORSAIR CMFSSD-128GBG2D is 73g


TOSHIBA 120GB 5400rpm is 112g


Most 2.5” HDD are around 100~115g. It means the traditional HDD is heaver than P128 SSD around 51~57%.
Someone think it’s just 27~39g lighter. However, for NoteBook users, you still can feel the weight difference.
At least, my most using NoteBook are around 1.0~1.4kg. After changing to SSD, I can feel the NoteBook become lighter.

PC platform is using GIGABYTE P55A-UD7.
Last time, I used X58 and ICH10R to test.
This time I change to latest P55 to test the performance.


P55A-UD7 supports 3Way-SLI.USB 3.0 and latest SATA3.0



Configuration
CPU: Intel Core i7-870
MB: GIGABYTE P55A-UD7
DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT CMG6GX3M3A2000C8
VGA: MSI N9600GT Diamond
HD: CORSAIR CMFSSD-128GBG2D
POWER: be quiet E7 Cable Management 480W
Cooler: Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme
OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit


System performance


HD Tune Pro 4.01 Benchmark
Average 199.6 MB/s
Access Time 0.1ms


EVEREST Linear Read Ave. 235.9 MB/s and max is 247.9 MB/s
HD Tune Pro 4.01 AAM 0.1ms


ATTO DISK Benchmark above 128k benchmark can reach max reading 233 MB/s and writing 181 MB/s
EVEREST Read Test Suite Randon Read 248.1 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Read is 236.7 Mb/s and Write is 180.1 MB/s
FDEBENCH Read is 222 Mb/s and Write is 181 MB/s


P128 internal is 8 channel design and writing performance is 180 MB/s.
The reading performance in most benchmark is around 220 MB/s. P128 read/write benchmark is almost same as official spec.
The seek time is only 0.1ms. It’s exclusive high performance by SSD and the seeking speed enhance the data search time.

PC with P128 RAID 0


HD Tune Pro 4.01 Benchmark
Average 414.7 MB/s
Access Time 0.1ms


EVEREST Linear Read Ave. 451.9 MB/s and max is 498.5 MB/s
HD Tune Pro 4.01 AAM 0.1ms


ATTO DISK Benchmark above 128k benchmark can reach max reading 422.2 Mb/s and writing is 384.3 MB/s
EVEREST Read Test Suite Randon Read 426.0 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Read is 429.3 Mb/s and Write is 369.0 MB/s
FDEBENCH Read is 396.8 Mb/s and Write is 363.1 MB/s


Using MB built-in chipset, some condition cannot reach double performance in RAID0 as its theory.
For P55 single chipset, its SB performance is quite good. Most benchmark reach x2 performance.
P55 compares to X58 IC10R, the RAID transfer performance are almost the same.
However, users need to fine tune some P55 BIOS to achieve the high performance.

NoteBook
I use DELL Latitude E series and the SB is ICH9M



HD Tune Pro 4.01 Benchmark
Average 170.1 MB/s
Access Time 0.2ms


HD Tune Pro 4.01 Random Access 1MB 201.404 MB/s
AAM 0.1ms


EVEREST Linear Read Ave. 213.3 MB/s and the max is 224.7 MB/s
FDEBENCH Read is 214.9 Mb/s and Write is 177.1 MB/s


ATTO DISK Benchmark above 128k benchmark can reach max reading 231.9 Mb/s and writing 185.9 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Read is 220.0 Mb/s and Write is 178.6 MB/s


NoteBook transfer rate is not as fast as PC, but the difference is not big.
Most benchmark can reach read 210~220 MB/s and write 177~178 MB/s
Comparing to current 2.5” HDD, 5400/7200rpm transfer rate is around 60~90 MB/s.
SSD really improve NoteBook transfer performance. It also makes system shorten the waiting time.


For the power, I previous review used Battery Eater Pro V2.70 to test the standby time, SSD would have 15 more minutes.
But after that, I just realized this benchmark software is for CPU full speed and 3D.
According to my friend, since he changed to SSD, the standby time increase around 30 minutes.
I think SSD power saving feature is also attractive for NoteBook users.



The potential SSD buyers are most using NoteBook.
Even though SSD price is higher, but the higher performance, lower power consumption and anti-shock ability are still very attractive.
Many of my friends are considering to move to SSD for their NoteBook.

For PC platform, 3.5” capacity is higher and performance is better than 2.5” HDD.
PC platform also doesn’t concern the shock issue as it’s not moving often. That’s why SSD is less attractive for PC users.
Some enthusiasts still buy SSD to make RAID to enhance their PC performance.

CPRSAIR P128 SSD owns very high data transfer rate and uses pure SAMSUNG MLC Chips.
Currently, CORSAIR also launches most hi-end Force series SSD. The read/write performance is 295/285 MB/s.
Force series must be the fastest MLC SSD product. Of course, the price will be higher than P128.
I am still looking forward for lower price SSD. It makes SSD be more affordable.

This high performance SSD storage can benefit more users if it becomes more popular in the future.  :)

Recently, I bought some headset. SONY MDR-DS7100 headset is one of them.




Finally, I still would like to Thanks for referring my article. :)