Model: OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB Solid State Drive
Manufacturer: OCZ Technology
Provided By: OCZ Technology

OCZ Technology is no stranger to the computer industry. Founded by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, the company entered the memory market in 2002. Determined to manufacture the very best memory for overclockers, OCZ quickly established itself as a leader in the industry by breaking speed barriers and maintaining a reputation of quality. Today, OCZ continues to innovate. Along with their line of enthusiast-oriented power supplies, the company offers a wide range of high-performance SSD solutions for the enterprise and consumer markets.

Over the last year or so, OCZ has introduced a number of new solid state drives for the consumer market. One of the latest additions to their product lineup is the Synapse Cache. Available in 64GB and 128GB capacities, OCZ's new SSD is powered by SandForce's SF-2281 processor and uses 25nm asynchronous NAND to deliver up to 550MB/s read and 510MB/s write speeds and up to 80,000 4KB random write IOPS. This by itself is impressive, but what really sets the Synapse Cache apart from other SSDs on the market is that it has been optimized for caching applications. When used alongside a standard hard drive, it provides users with SSD-level performance across its entire capacity. The included Dataplex cache software dynamically monitors and manages user data, creating an environment where the most frequently used "hot" data stays on the SSD, while the "cold" data remains on the larger capacity hard drive.

For this review, OCZ sent us the 64GB version of the Synapse Cache. This SSD is capable of delivering up to 550 MB/s sequential read and 490 MB/s sequential write speeds as well as up to 75,000 random write IOPS.

   OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB Solid State Drive
General Specifications
Part Number SYN-25SAT3-64G
Raw Capacity 64GB
Cache Capacity 32GB
Flash Type 25nm Multi-Level Cell (MLC)
Controller SandForce SF-2281
Form Factor 2.5-inch
Interface SATA III 6Gb/s

Performance
Sequential Read 550 MB/s Max
Sequential Write 490 MB/s Max
Maximum 4K Random Read 10,000 IOPS (40 MB/s)
Maximum 4K Random Write 75,000 IOPS (300 MB/s)

Reliability
MTBF 2 million hours

Power Consumption
Active 2.7 Watts
Idle 1.5 Watts

Environmental
Operating Temperature 0 ºC to 70 ºC
Ambient Temperature 0 ºC to 55 ºC
Storage Temperature -45 ºC to 85 ºC
Shock 1500G

Dimensions and Weight
Dimensions 98 x 69.9 x 9.1 mm
Weight 79g

Other Features
Supports TRIM, SMART, NCQ, ATA/ATAPI-8
Integrated Dataplex caching software
ECC Recovery, Data Encryption
Bundled with 3.5" desktop adapter bracket
Three year warranty

Needless to say, this is only a taste of what the Synapse Cache has to offer. To give you an idea of what to expect, we'll take a closer look at OCZ's new SSD and then see how well it performs. Can the Synapse Cache really deliver SSD-level performance across the entire capacity of a hard drive? Keep reading as we find out.  


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