FutureMark PCMark Vantage 1.0.0.0 - HDD Test	Source: FutureMark

PCMark Vantage is the first objective hardware performance benchmark for PCs running 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows Vista. PCMark Vantage is perfectly suited for benchmarking any type of Windows Vista PC from multi media home entertainment systems and laptops to dedicated workstations and hi-end gaming rigs. Regardless of whether the benchmarker is an artist or an IT Professional, PCMark Vantage shows the user where their system soars or falls flat, and how to get the most performance possible out of their hardware. PCMark Vantage is easy enough for even the most casual enthusiast to use yet supports in-depth, professional industry grade testing. Higher points are better.

Futuremark PCMark Vantage - HDD Suite Windows Defender: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 30.7 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 31.2 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 22.9 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 26.4 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 28.1 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 27.3 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 196.2 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 247.8 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 313.6 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 221 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 104.1 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 27.4 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 27.6 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 45.2 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 32.6 Gaming: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 18.7 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 16.5 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 13.7 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 16.1 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 16.3 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 18.4 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 230.5 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 246.6 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 273.4 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 215.1 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 91.5 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 16.9 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 17 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 53.5 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 36 Importing to Photo Gallery: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 65.1 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 54.3 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 43.2 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 56.6 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 59.2 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 56.1 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 252 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 259.1 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 381.5 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 238.5 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 134.8 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 69.3 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 65 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 88.1 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 51.7 Windows Vista Startup: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 23.5 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 23.7 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 25.8 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 18.9 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 23.5 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 19.1 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 243.6 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 316.8 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 309.3 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 214.9 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 64.5 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 20.9 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 20.3 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 44.5 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 32 Editing w/h Movie Maker: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 68.4 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 79.2 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 62.4 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 43.3 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 51.9 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 40.9 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 158.6 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 151.1 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 263.9 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 189 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 89.4 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 43.4 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 45.8 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 53.1 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 30.5 Media Center: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 143.3 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 357 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 123.9 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 91.7 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 137.8 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 81.3 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 267.8 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 349.4 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 419.5 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 244.3 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 157.6 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 115.2 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 109 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 88 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 61.7 Adding Files to Media Player: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 14.4 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 11.7 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 10.6 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 10.2 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 10.2 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 9.5 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 127.3 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 125.2 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 218.5 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 175.8 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 71.3 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 10.1 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 10.5 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 20.5 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 13 Application Loading: Points Ranking Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD 7.3 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 0) 11.1 Western Digital RE4 1TB WD1003FBYX HDD (RAID 1) 8.8 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD 5.3 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 0) 7.4 Western Digital 1TB WD1001FALS HDD (RAID 1) 6.9 Crucial M4 256GB SSD 139.5 SanDisk Etreme 240GB SSD 203.5 OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD 270.7 OCZ Vertex 2 128GB SSD 164.6 Plextor PX-128M1S SSD 57.1 Seagate 3TB Barracuda XT HDD 5.3 Seagate 2TB Barracuda XT HDD 5.4 Seagate 750GB Momentus XT SSHD 16.3 Seagate 500GB Momentus XT SSHD 11.4

On the whole, PCMark Vantage results position the OCZ Vertex 3 240GB SSD at the front of the pack of SSDs PCSTATS has tested thus far. Only in 'Windows Vista Startup' does the Sandisk SSD outperform the OCZ Vertex 3.

The Vertex 3 - a worthy SSD to consider?

The 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-240G is a 6Gb/s SATA III solid state drive built with Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND flash memory and the Sandforce 2281 controller. The VTX3-25SAT3-240G performed admirably, topping most of the benchmark charts PCSTATS threw at it for speed and access times. This 2.5" SSD measures 9.3mm thick, making it compatible with most notebooks. Desktop users are given a metal 3.5" bracket so the drive can easily be inserted into a tower PC system.

Retailing for around $189 USD, the 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-240G costs about $0.78/GB, making it quite affordable as SSDs go.

For users that have held back moving their operating system onto a solid state drive, now's the time to make the leap. While processors have continually increased in speed, along with memory and videocards, at some point you've got to acknowledge you're coming up against an I/O wall and do something to address this.

SSDs offer a large speed advantage over standard mechanical hard drives, with an obvious trade off in storage capacity. Speed up the program files and applications and the rest of your PC hardware will thank you. Infrequently used data files can still be economically stored on mechanical drives, but it's high time Windows 7 wasn't. With peak CrystalDiskMark results for the 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 of 506MB/s Read and 288MB/s Write (AS SSD), the Vertex 3 meets it's advertised speeds. Recommended.

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