OCZ 'Apex' SSD Drives Available For Pre-Order Now.

AndyOcUK · 16 Jan 2009 at 14:17

OCZ 'Apex' SSD Drives Available For Pre-Order Now.

Offering your notebook or desktop system the incredible benefits of flash-based technology, the OCZ Apex Series is the result of all the latest breakthroughs in SSD technology, including new internal RAID 0 architecture, updated controller design, and speedy 230MB/sec read and 160MB/sec write speeds. OCZ continues to place flash mass storage technology within reach of the average consumer with the Apex Series and delivers on the promise of SSDs as an alternative to traditional hard drives in consumer targeted mobile applications. The OCZ Apex Series drives feature a durable yet lightweight alloy housing, and because OCZ SSDs have no moving parts, the drives are more rugged than traditional hard drives. Designed for ultimate reliability, Apex Series SSDs have an excellent 1.5 million hour mean time before failure (MTBF) ensuring peace of mind over the long term. All Apex Series drives come backed a two year warranty and OCZ’s legendary service and support.

Available in 60Gb, 120Gb and 250Gb flavours.

- Read: Up to 230MB/sec
- Write: Up to 160MB/sec
- NAND Flash: Multi-Level Cell (MLC)
- Interface: SATA-II
- Low Power Consumption
- Lightweight (77g)
- Shock Resistant
- Warranty: 2 Years

Pre-Order Now.

pioneer2000 · 16 Jan 2009 at 14:42

Can you confirm estimated dates for when apex and vertex drives will actually be in stock?

Stop trying to get people to preorder in advance when there's no indication when you will have stock!!

Slackworth · 16 Jan 2009 at 17:35

I'll try and get something out of OCZ. Unfortunately they don't tend to have a great idea of dates themselves.

phinix · 16 Jan 2009 at 20:52

Those prices are insane! - 60GB Apex is for almost same price as Vertex, when Apex is Mainstream and Vertex is highest model... Price should be in the middle of SOlid and Vertex.

RaiderX · 16 Jan 2009 at 21:00

the apex has faster read/write than vertex?

phinix · 16 Jan 2009 at 21:02

RaiderX said:
the apex has faster read/write than vertex?

Apex doesn't have cache and uses older controller -same as Core v2?
That will make those speed slower anyway. It will not perform same as VErtex...

azza21 · 16 Jan 2009 at 22:25

Vertex drives should be out next week, i would wait for reviews on both drives, then you will know which is better.

BlackAle · 17 Jan 2009 at 00:58

All these SSD releases are great, though considering the rapid development & confusing product lines, it doesn't inspire buying confidence.

drak3 · 17 Jan 2009 at 01:09

I was in the market for two SSDs to raid but with OCZ's R&D throwing a model per month at me I feel I should get one for free as anyone who buys is clearly a tester!

drak3 · 17 Jan 2009 at 01:12

phinix said:
Apex doesn't have cache and uses older controller -same as Core v2?
That will make those speed slower anyway. It will not perform same as VErtex...

Is this possible? I mean, who on earth would take a bad product and make sure it will be twice as bad by squaring the load on the same cheapo controller?

phinix · 17 Jan 2009 at 03:33

Well, RAID will be great with Vertex in Vertex 2 version... These will be fast as hell. Now, Apex is Core v2 in RAID giving you similar speeds as VErtex.. AND unfortunately - for almost same price: 60GB Apex - £195.49, 60GB Vertex - £206...
I believe Apex without cache and using old controller will be somehow slower than Vertex. So looks like Veetex is still better choice...
So it comes to what do you want - old controller cache-less RAID Apex with same capacity for same price - or Vertex with chache and new contoller... Both £200 price range for 60GB... almost same speeds - unless first tests show that Apex is slower...

miniyazz · 18 Jan 2009 at 03:13

Surely adding cache isn't that expensive? If not having cache is one of the main problems with stuttering drives, why not add it - it's been used for years in regular HDDs; surely it's not that difficult to implement in SSDs.

phinix · 18 Jan 2009 at 10:32

miniyazz said:
Surely adding cache isn't that expensive? If not having cache is one of the main problems with stuttering drives, why not add it - it's been used for years in regular HDDs; surely it's not that difficult to implement in SSDs.

I know, thats the problem. Cache isn't that expensive, so why its not added to all ssd?

phinix · 23 Jan 2009 at 06:53

Now these 60GB APex are even less interesting - OCZ forum mentioned that 60GB has different write speed than rest in the group.

Some initial info:

official quoted speeds from OCZ:
250GB: READ-up to 244MB/s WRITE-up to 167MB/s
120GB: READ-up to 248MB/s WRITE-up to 173MB/s
60GB: READ-up to 244MB/s WRITE-up to 111MB/s

111MB/S - that sucks... With almost same price as Vertex, no point to buy Apex now.. At least those 60GB. Reviews will tell the truth, but even now we can see those Apex are not worth that money...

RSR · 23 Jan 2009 at 14:07

So do the Apex drives has the same controller as the V2's?

Thanks

Andy

miniyazz · 24 Jan 2009 at 00:05

andyd said:
So do the Apex drives has the same controller as the V2's?

Thanks

Andy

No, it's been updated. Still waiting to find out if it's got the same problem as before, but probably not..

The Halk · 1 Feb 2009 at 20:15

Apex have an updated controller, and internal RAID0. All from Jmicron.

Vertex have someone else's controller, however they also have cache.

Apex will perform better for large files. Vertex will perform faster for writes, and for smaller files. In real world performance Vertex will be far superior to Apex.

Finally I'd compare 2x30GB Vertex to 1x60GB Apex and you'd see the Vertex beating the Apex everywhere by a large margin.

miniyazz · 2 Feb 2009 at 07:47

I read a review somewhere - can't remember where :mad:

- basically what the Halk said. The Apex is usually but not always superior to the Core v2, for whatever reason. And the Vertex looks set to be the Intel competitor.

NickK · 2 Feb 2009 at 10:36

I was thinking about an SSD but with all the change I decided to invest in some beer making kit instead.. I'll wait until they have a solid dependable working drive before I upgrade my MBP (it's my everything non-gaming machine including work so needs to work flawlessly).

OCZ need to kill all the product lines with flawed controllers and signal a clear break to the market.

ROfu · 2 Feb 2009 at 12:07

I'm getting a little anoyed at the constant OCZ rehashes of thier own product lines.
People should be forgetting the Apex unless your going to use a hardware controller with cache Or use one of the software "fixing" applications like steadyspeed from Microsoft.

The vertex is the only potentialy worthwhile drive outside the Intels.

The Apex uses an updated version of the Jmicron controller (not fixed - Updated) it still has the same stuttering issues due to lack of cache. look up other apex related threads to see users who have this drive.

The Vertex has not only a solid amount of Cache but does NOT use the jmicron controller, meaning they are even better value than the apex when released (hopefully)

Cheers ROfu