OCZ has been working closely with SandForce and they have provided us with a new firmware drop (2.08) that addresses a number of the outstanding issues. We are recommending that all customers update to this latest firmware. We encourage any customers that are experiencing any issues to please come directly to us, and if you have any issues updating also come to us and we will be happy to support you. We can also continue to confirm that the OCZ SSD proprietary hardware design does not exhibit any of the hardware issues observed on other competitor drives and we thank all our valuable customers and are committed to providing timely updates and continuing to address this and any issues head on.

FW 2.08:

New version of Toolbox as well:http://www.ocztechnology.com/files/s…lbox_v2_37.zip

I recommend you reboot after flashing the firmware and you now also have to reboot after doing a Secure erase.
This is VERY important.

We look to have found a bug with secure erase with 2.06 and 2.08, its simple to work around but you need to be specific when you run an SE.

When you SE a drive, it needs to complete a cycle to properly complete the SE. That cycle can either be a power off then power on, or a reboot of the machine you SE’d on. The important part here is that it is on the same machine, you don’t want to SE, then power off, then move the drive.
So, if you boot into Windows or Linux and SE, once the SE is done, simply reboot back to that same OS before you start installing Windows or moving the drive to another machine (if you had to switch machines).
so windows..:

1 run SE on the drive as spare with toolbox
2 once complete, reboot back to the same boot drive with the ssd still connected as a spare
3 check SE has wiped the drive
4 if drive is clean, power off, remove OS drive and install to SSD normally (although my method is fool proof as everything gets loaded in the correct order) make sure to run WEI after all drivers and power options in windows are set, this is most important.

DO NOT:
Run SE then unplug and attach to another platform
You do this, you will password lock the drives and there is no way back without an RMA

Within Linux:

1 boot to live CD
2 Run HDparm secure erase
3 once confirmed, close HDparm, reboot back to the same linux CD
4 check HDparm sees the ssd BUT it should not show as a drive on the desktop as its not partitioned
5 if all is ok power off, remove Linux live CD and install OS normally

These are my recommendations to ensure things are clean. You do not HAVE to follow any of this, this is just how I insure a level playing field on my installs and SE’s.

If you just want to update the drive and not reinstall:
Boot into Windows with the SSD as a secondary (if you are using the Toolbox).
Open toolbox and update the drive.
Close toolbox
Go to Start > restart the computer
Boot back into the same Windows install (do not boot to the SSD).
After you get to desktop, you can then shutdown and boot back to the SSD.

If you want to go fresh after this update:
Boot into Windows with the SSD as a secondary (if you are using the Toolbox)
Open Toolbox and SE the drive
Close toolbox
Restart the computer back into the same Windows install.
Open Toolbox and update the Firmware
Close Toolbox
Restart the computer back into OS.
After desktop, you can shutdown and then begin OS install to SSD.

New OCZ HSDL Eliminates the Bandwidth-Saturation of Current Interfaces to Deliver Unparalleled SSD Performance for Both Enterprise and Consumer Clients

SAN JOSE, CA—September 29, 2010— OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) and memory modules for computing devices and systems, has unveiled a proprietary interface called “High-Speed Data Link” (HSDL) to accelerate the progression of solid-state storage. Unsatisfied with existing interface options, OCZ developed HSDL to eliminate I/O bottlenecks and enable SSD technology to operate at its full potential. With this initiative, OCZ aims to enhance high performance computing (HPC) and I/O-intensive infrastructures for its clients.

“Solid State Drive throughput speeds are increasing at a rate in excess of what current storage buses can support, and as a result, storage protocols are quickly becoming the bottleneck to storage subsystem performance,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology. “Designed for both high-performance computing and enterprise storage applications, our new High Speed Data Link interface addresses this issue and revolutionizes data storage by significantly outperforming other current interfaces delivering performance at levels that saturate most CPU busses.”

Capable of running up to 20Gbps of data bandwidth per channel, HSDL significantly outperforms existing storage interfaces such as Serial ATA (SATA) and Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) which only offer 3Gbps/6Gbps data rates. Furthermore, multiple HSDL channels can be combined for maximum bandwidth to increase productivity levels in both consumer and enterprise applications.

OCZ’s new HSDL interface is the driving force behind the “OCZ IBIS,” an upcoming 3.5-inch SSD to be launched under the new HSDL initiative. As the first solution to make use of the HSDL interface, the OCZ IBIS Series has the potential to redefine storage and surpass the limitations currently placed on hard drives as well as other SSDs.

HSDL is an open standard and allows other devices to leverage this high-speed internal interconnect technology. OCZ is diligently working with platform partners for mass HSDL adoption, and in the meantime, single port adapter cards will ship with every HSDL solid-state drive such as the IBIS Series, while quad port cards for multiple drive configurations will also be available to clients seeking even greater storage and bandwidth.

You probably know about the OCZ RevoDrive which has amazing IOPs. At the Sandstorm booth at IDF technology Showcase, the latest RevoDrive x2 is sighted at the Sandforce booth.

The new OCZ RevoDrive X2, which is a PCI Express-based SSD that features four Sandforce controllers in what’s essentially a 4-way RAID configuration looks just like the the existing RevoDrive, but with a daughterboard attached with two additional controllers and some additional NAND. The RevoDrive X2 also sports Intel NAND flash memory. The device offers a max read speeds in the 740MB/s range with writes approaching 730MB/s. Using IOMETER, 4K random writes are rated at up to 120,000 IOPS.

Source

OCZ Vertex 2 E 60GB OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G Review
bluetooth 15 Aug 2010

HDD used to be the bottleneck for performance. This has been partially solved with higher SATA interface speed. As HDD goes speedier, it is still unable to saturate the interface.  SSD came and slowly take over as the preferred choice as storage media as it is speedy and could take advantage of the higher speed SATA II interface. As not all SSD are made equal, some SSD gives amazing read speeds but bad write speeds. OCZ Vertex II 60GB, the extended version inherits the original version with a bigger capacity and push the limits in both sequential and random read/write. As spec, it is able to do a max read and write up to 285MB/s and 275MB/s respectively. 4K random write (aligned) should be able to attain 50,000 IOPS. by virtue of the SandForce controller.

Built with SATA 3Gb/s, the Vertex 2 Series easily integrates into today’s mobile and desktop platforms and features TRIM support to optimize performance over the drive’s lifespan as the ultimate Windows 7 notebook or desktop upgrade.

The OCZ Vertex II 60GB comes with a metal bracketl 2.5” to 3.5” adapter so you can stick the SSD into a standard hard drive bay. Below is a video showing the package and the SSD.

Specifications

Max Read: up to 285MB/s
Max Write: up to 275MB/s
Sustained Write: up to 250MB/s
4k Random Write (Aligned): 50,000 IOPS
Seek Time: 0.1 MS
Power Consumption: Idle: 0.5Watts Active: 2Watt
Performance Optimization: TRIM (requires OS support)

OCZ Technology Announces Vertex 2 and Agility 2 Solid State Drives

Company Unveils Cutting-Edge 2.5-Inch Solid State Drives for the Consumer Market 

 SAN JOSE, CA—April 8, 2010—OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (OTCBB: OCZT), a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and flash-based storage as an alternative to hard disk drives (HDDs), today unveiled the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SATA II 2.5″ Solid State Drive (SSD) Series. These are new enthusiast-class SSDs designed for consumers who are seeking unprecedented speed and reliability with the goal of enhancing both their daily computing experience and long-term productivity.

“OCZ’s original Vertex Series of solid state drives have become a top seller due to the product’s exceptional performance and reliability,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology Group. “The new Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SSD lines continue that tradition by incorporating the latest controller and firmware technology. They are an excellent solution for customers who are looking for improved transfer rates and best-in-class input/output per second (IOPS) for a wide range of uses, ranging from entertainment to workstation and tier 2 storage applications. Additionally, this new product line highlights our continuing determination to be the market leader in the high reliability memory and flash-based storage market.”

Building on the features that distinguished their highly acclaimed predecessors, the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 incorporate a cutting-edge new controller design that delivers superior performance across the board. As the higher-end option, the Vertex 2 excels in 4KB random writes up to 50,000 IOPS and features transfer rates up to 285MB/s read and 275MB/s write. For the value-conscious enthusiast, Agility 2 provides similar performance at a lower price point and delivers identical read/write rates and 4KB random writes up to 10,000 IOPS.

OCZ Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SSDs not only provide a faster, more responsive PC experience, but also promote cooler, quieter and more energy-efficient conditions compared to traditional mechanical hard drives. Built with SATA 3Gb/s, the drives easily integrate into today’s mobile and desktop platforms and feature TRIM support for Windows 7 systems. Available in 50GB, 100GB, 200GB, and 400GB capacities*, Vertex 2 and Agility 2 will begin shipping in the next few weeks through OCZ’s extensive global channel. Both series come backed by a three-year warranty and OCZ’s dedicated technical support for ultimate peace of mind.