OCZ Launches a Revolution, the RevoDrive 3 PCIe SSD

“If you build it, they will come”. Well, OCZ has built another SSD monster; say hello to the RevoDrive 3 and RevoDrive 3 X2. This third generation PCIe-based SSD boasts the highest performance ever seen yet for workstation or even desktop use. Featuring version 2.0 of OCZ’s Virtualized Controller Architecture, it offers more than just a new generation of jaw-dropping performance.

The RevoDrive 3 is the first in the series to utilize a VCA-controlled 4-port SAS chip that can deliver SATA 6Gbps speeds to each controller, while at the same time handling the PCIe bridging duties. This completely does away with the clunky daisy chain of SATA controller, RAID controller, PCI, and PCIe bridges involved in typical PCIe SSD designs.

Only enthusiasts with waterproof keyboards are safe to read on. OCZ mentions the RevoDrive 3 X2 can deliver 230,000 IOPS (4K random writes) and can reach just a mere 1.5GB/s of throughput. The new RevoDrive 3 is offered in capacities from 120GB up to 960GB, and comes in two models. The RevoDrive 3 features a pair of the latest greatest SF-2281 controllers onboard, while the RevoDrive 3 X2 denotes the model with an attached daughter PCB, for a total of four SF-2281 controllers and matching boost in performance.

Interestingly, it appears that RAID 0 is not used by this new SAS controller, which not only allows for a better performance but also means that should an SSD controller fail, the other(s) will still continue to function. In traditional RAID 0 PCIe solid-state drives, the loss of any single controller would mean the loss of the entire card and all of its data. OCZ also takes care to credit the new VCA flash virtualization for direct memory access, and data management functions including native command queuing, load balancing, and even onboard hardware acceleration to offload the processing of all these features.

As our own review of the original RevoDrive well-proved, powered by the current generation of SSD controllers these drives can offer obscene levels of performance at a relatively inexpensive price. OCZ makes a point to mention the RevoDrive 3 should cost less than a tenth of its nearest enterprise competitors, and as mentioned before the entry level RevoDrive 3 model starts at just 120GB. The RevoDrive 3 models should be available now, and as with all OCZ SSDs, it will receive a three-year warranty.