OCZ Synapse Cache SSD 64GB Storage   Page 1

Reviewer: RWL Staff Article Publish Date: 11/24/2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

 

 

    I would like to start this review by saying thanks to all of you for your great feedback on our recent 16-way SSD Roundup. You all know how hard it is not only to gather so many samples at once but also to perform all the tests we did so your appreciation is welcome. Of course following 2010 and 2011 in 2012 we also plan to upload the largest SSD comparison of the year, if of course something new rises up by then. Today we have yet another SSD unit with us featuring the same SandForce SF-2281 used by most units in our comparison but this time the SSD at hand is not your regular storage unit but rather something quite innovative which promises to dramatically increase the performance of regular mechanical drives. The name of the drive is Synapse and is the first SSD designed as high speed cache by OCZ.

 

 

     Founded in 2002, San Jose, California-based OCZ Technology Group, Inc. has built on its expertise in high-speed memory to become a dominant player in the manufacturing and distribution of solid state drives (SSDs), a disruptive, game-changing technology that is replacing traditional rotating magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs). SSDs are faster, more reliable, run cooler, and use significantly less power than the HDDs used in the majority of computers today. In addition to SSD technology, OCZ also offers high performance components for computing devices and systems, including enterprise class power management products as well leading edge computer gaming solutions.

 

 

    A couple of months ago OCZ released their Hybrid solution which was essential an PCIex SSD solution (cashing) coupled with an 1TB 2.5" HDD (main storage) with very impressive performance results across the board. However it has a single drawback, namely its price tag which is currently set at around usd490/430Euros. With the Synapse line of SSDs OCZ gives an way out to people who want the extra muscle but either can't spend as much or have no need for the 1TB drive of the Hybrid solution. Using the drive is actually very easy, you just need to plug it with an available SATA III 6Gbps port and it'll start caching the files you use the most from your primary (boot) hard disk drive. Obviously the Synapse is not a storage update for your system since you are not really able to use the extra space, it is however a very good performance upgrade. How good? Well read on to find out.