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Like the OCZ Vertex 2 series, the new Patriot Inferno solid-state drives make use of the SandForce SF-1200 controller. This means although the drive is only advertised as a 100GB model, there is actually 128GB worth of flash memory in total despite having a formatted capacity of just 93.1GB.
The difference in available memory comes not only from the ~7% spare area you get from the GB to GiB conversion for moving data around, but also because SandForce specifies an additional 20% flash be set aside for its DuraWrite technology, which is designed to reduce write amplification and extend endurance.
Once formatted, the drive only has 93.1GB of usable space. SandForce claims the loss is unavoidable and that this method will eventually have to be adopted by all future solid state drives. The lost capacity increases as the drives become larger. The 200GB model for instance, which has 256GB of flash memory on the PCB, only has 185.5GB of usable storage space.
However OCZ has recently issued a new firmware that reduces the over-provisioning, which effectively turns the 100GB model into a 120GB model. This means the available capacities from OCZ are now 60/120/240/480. As it stands Patriot is yet to issue a similar update for the Inferno SSD series, leaving their models at 100/200GB capacities.
Something else we have found interesting about the SandForce controllers is that there is no DRAM cache. SandForce is able to do away with the cache by writing less to the flash, meaning there is less data to account for and smaller tables to manage on the fly. Because less data is being written, SandForce claims that manufacturers can use cheaper memory to save on costs.
The SandForce SF-1200 controller carries a small cache onboard, which is thought to be a few megabytes in size, though the exact figure hasn't been disclosed. Inside the controller there is also a Tensilica DC_570T CPU core. When we questioned the use of this CPU core, SandForce said it has little to do with the performance of the controller and stated that it is everything else around the CPU that matters.
The Vertex 2 features Intel 29F64G08CAMDB flash memory. In total there are 16 chips with 8GB capacity each. Patriot claims maximum read and write performance of 285 and 275 MB/s, respectively, which translates to 14% faster reads than most SSDs based on the Indilinx Barefoot controller, while the write speed is an astonishing 53% faster.
The drive uses a slim 2.5" design measuring 99.8 x 69.63 x 9.3mm and weighing under 100 grams. Patriot is shipping these new Inferno drives with a 3.5" bay adapter for easier installation in a desktop computer.
The drive is said to use 2 watts of power when in use and 0.5 watts in standby. You can set these up to work in RAID if you were to purchase more than one. Finally, Patriot backs the Inferno with a massive 5-year warranty. |
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Dave P |
Posted on: 06/30/2010 01:50 PM
I have one of these drives. I have asked Patriot if you are going to fix the capacity size like other makers. No reply yet. Please update the review with any info about this if you can find out when and if they will release a new firmware. Ohh and nice review. |
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Richie |
Posted on: 06/30/2010 09:51 PM
The performance of these things is getting better but the price is still insane. It was interesting to read about the reliability issues. Thanks for the hard work and keep it up. |
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Peter |
Posted on: 07/01/2010 11:48 AM
If you buy a 10-pack, 1 TDK 1.44MB floppy-disk will cost you about 0.50$ .. buy 700 and you will have about a GB worth of storage for the super-cheap price of only 350$ . Or you could buy 3 Corsair Flash Voyager 32 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drives at the bargain-price of 93.99$ each = 281.97$ for 96GB unformatted capacity .. and about 15 MB/s write-speed under ideal conditions . You still think SSD's are "expensive" or could it be that electro-mechanical HDD's are so dirt-cheap that it messes with your perception of what "expensive" is ? |
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ProX |
Posted on: 07/01/2010 01:31 PM
hahahahah nice one Peter. You are right they have it all wrong LOL |
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Bluescreendeath |
Posted on: 07/07/2010 12:54 PM
This SSD is HOT  |
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cynthia nelson Posts: 1 Joined: 2010-07-03 |
Posted on: 07/03/2010 06:21 AM
I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with everyone. |
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kenny |
Posted on: 07/04/2010 09:33 PM
nice looking drive and the results are great. shame they don't make a smaller cheaper version. |
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Bowser |
Posted on: 07/12/2010 03:20 AM
I think the warranty is really important for these things given the price. I have already had my Vertex die on me once, it was still under warranty which was good but I did loose the data that I failed to back up. Not that much can be done about that  |
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Chootia |
Posted on: 07/21/2010 10:10 PM
Its a shame that 100GB is the smallest drive they make. I would love to get a pair of 50's for RAID1. Looks like I will have to go with Corsair or OCZ. |