To get to the next level of performance in its SSD disk line-up; the new Apex series SSD is using two JMicron JMF602 Flash controller chips along with a JMB390 RAID chip. The Apex series is effectively a pair SSDs in RAID 0 "Stripe" configuration across the 2 banks of MLC flash RAM. At the top end you’ll see that the RAID setup helps the OCZ OCZSSD2-1APX120G 120GB SATA 2 Apex Series Solid State Drive and 250GB models attain a Write speed of "up to 160MB/s". But note in fine print the 60GB model has a Write speed of "up to 110MB/s" so there's a bit of an overall performance ding with the low-end, most affordable Apex model.

Tags: apex ssd, OCZ Apex, OCZ Raid

CONFUSED YET? -- Keeping up with SSD products and drive developments isn't easy. OCZ is kind of complicating things with it's SSD product line and naming scheme.

It would be nice if SSD manufacturers could establish some sort of benchmark standard - and name drives accordingly. Sometimes part numbers containing an 'S' or an 'M' give a clue as to whether top-performing SLC memory is used vs. more affordable MLC memory. Or perhaps drives could be numbered by their max Read speed benchmarks: i.e. We need something like the 150 Series for up to 150mbps reads, the 200-Series for 200mbps, etc. But no. Intel ain't doing too bad with it's simply divided product line: XM - MLC 'Mainstream' series or XE - SLC 'Enhanced'. Pelican SSD's are broken into the value MLC 'Pelican' models and the high-flying SLC 'Eagle' Series.

OCZ is kind of complicating things with it's SSD product line and naming scheme. We started with the Core Series then the Core Series V2 - then to the Solid Series then the Vertex Series and now to the Apex Series. But what do these names MEAN?!?

Core: 155 Read - 90 Write
Solid: 170 Read - 98 Write
Vertex : 200 Read 170 Write - 64Mb Cache Onboard
Apex: 230 Read 160 Write** (Write speeds revised LOWER to 120 in shipping firmware. OCZ opted to reduce peak Writes to minimize intermittent 'stuttering' problems exhibited in the JMicron controller chips.)

OCZ OCZSSD2-1VTX30G 30GB SATA 2 Vertex Series Solid State Drive Touts 200MB/sec Read, 170MB/sec Writes... so in a way it is their current best OVERALL performer using an Indilinx controller.


60GB Apex Series Solid State Drive will debut just under $300 The Apex line oddly NOT the peak of performance compared to the Vertex: It still uses a less-than-optimal JMicron controller - but compensates with 2 banks of MLC NAND flash in an internal RAID 0 config to get the most performance at a lower-cost.

Tags: vertex ssd, solid ssd, apex ssd