Corsair launches range-topping Force Series GS SSDs

Corsair has added a new member to its Force family of solid-state drives. The Force Series GS combines the current-generation SF-2281 controller with Toggle DDR NAND to create its fastest SSD yet, achieving maximum random 4k write performance of up to 90K IOPS.

The Force Series GS SSDs features SATA 6Gb/s connectivity, TRIM support to maintain performance over time, and low power operation for longer battery life in notebooks. The 2.5-inch form factor drives also ship with a 3.5-inch adapter so they can be easily installed into notebooks or desktop PCs.

There are four capacities available, including 180GB, 240GB, 360GB, and 480GB ranging in price from $189.99 to $489.99 depending on capacity. Performance also varies by model as detailed by Corsair:

180GB: 555MB/s read, 525MB/s write, 90,000 Max Random 4k Write IOPS

240GB: 555MB/s read, 525MB/s write, 90,000 Max Random 4k Write IOPS

360GB: 555MB/s read, 530MB/s write, 50,000 Max Random 4k Write IOPS

480GB: 540MB/s read, 455MB/s write, 50,000 Max Random 4k Write IOPS

Corsair ran the 240GB model though some tests and posted the results in its blog — they fare quite well as you’d expect. The new Force GS drives include a 3-year limited warranty and will be available immediately from online retailers. Newegg has the 180GB and 360GB versions listed for $175 and $320, respectively.

Source

Mainstream SSD prices plummeted nearly 50% in the past year

Finally dipping below the heralded $1 per GB mark, it appears overall SSD prices have been on a precipitous decline over the past year. This observation comes from The Tech Report who analyzed data fromcamelegg.com, a website dedicated to tracking prices at Newegg.

Their overall findings show that Crucial, Corsair, OCZ and Samsung SSDs have been mostly in line with price cuts for their 240GB and 256GB offerings. In many cases, these SSDs have shed more than half their original cost since launch. Meanwhile, 120GB and 128GB SSDs also fell at similar although slightly more modest rates. As of the past week, many 120GB and 128GB SSDs are now hovering under the $120 mark, making them viable alternatives to traditional hard drives for a growing segment of consumers.

Despite the overall trend of falling prices, Intel has continued to treat their SSDs quite differently than competitors. Prices on Intel's drives have come down only slightly and remain stagnant for long periods of time.

Well-known industry vendors like OCZ have typically based their designs on third-party controllers, like those by Sandforce and Marvell. Many of those offerings come in 4-channel and 8-channel configurations with varying numbers of chips, typically in multiples of 8. Intel, on the other hand, is the only company I'm familiar with that offers its own proprietary controller with a 10-channel design. But, even Intel has begun using third-party controllers in some of its SSDs, so maybe we'll see better overall prices from Intel in the future.

Another statistical peculiarity are smaller and monstrously large SSDs. Drives which were 60GB or less are markedly more expensive per gigabyte -- many hit $100 for half the storage of a slightly higher priced 128GB SSDs.

Although The Tech Report doesn't touch on 480GB+ SSDs, some anecdotal price checking reveals that, overall, there is a premium to be paid for solid state drives with unusually high-capacities as well. For now, 128-256GB seems to be the sweet spot.

Corsair launches quad channel memory kits for Intel LGA-2011

Corsair has announced multiple quad channel DDR3 memory kits designed for use on Intel’s new Sandy Bridge-E platform. 32nm, socket LGA-2011 processors feature an upgraded integrated memory controller with four channels supporting DDR3-1600 memory for a theoretical peak bandwidth of 51.2GB/s.

Corsair is offering multiple quad channel kit sizes under various product lines. In terms of sheer operating speed, the 8GB Dominator GT package is rated at PC3-19200 (2400MHz) at tested latencies of 10-12-10-27. A 32GB Dominator GT kit is also available, although these modules are only tested at 2133MHz with timings of 9-11-10-27.

"The new Dominator 32GB Quad Channel memory kit is designed for high-performance PC enthusiasts using the latest motherboards, whether they're overclockers, gamers, or simply want a large amount of state-of-the-art memory," said Thi La, vice president of memory products at Corsair. "Corsair is a market leader in high-performance memory, and we're pleased to be first to market with a high-performance 32GB quad channel kit."

Standard Dominator and Vengeance kits are also available should you not require such high operating speeds. For example, the 32GB Vengeance kit operates at 1600MHz at 10-10-10-27. A low profile version of the Vengeance kit is offered in a 16GB capacity kit that features tighter tested timings of 8-8-8-24 at 1600MHz.

Both Dominator and Dominator GT lines support Dual-path Heat eXchange (DHX), Corsair’s patented memory cooling technology. DHX Pro takes it one step further by including circuitry to measure various memory parameters which can then be output to a diagnostic device like the AirFlow Pro Memory parametric display.

Pricing varies depending on which kit and capacity you are interested in. As of writing, a 32GB Dominator GT quad channel kit is listed at $261.35 on Corsair's website which seems to be in error as the kit is listed at $999 in Corsair's press release. A 32GB Vengeance kit with a slower speed rating costs $527.65.

eVGA Frostbite vs Arctic Silver Céramique

Introduction

With the market for extreme PC cooling growing at a rapid rate over the past few years, we are seeing a much greater number of PC components and accessories geared to this end of the spectrum.  This goes back to the Foxconn “Quantum Force” line, which was kicked off with a killer mainboard, theBLACKOPS with features that had never been seen before.  Fast forward a few years, and now all the top manufacturers are mimicking elements from that board, and pushing forward with other innovations geared towards extreme cooling enthusiasts.

However, one area that has not seen any special attention is in the TIM (Thermal Interface Material) market, at least until now (the last time there was anything resembling this kind of enthusiast buzz over some cooling goo was when Arctic Silver hit the market). eVGA recently unleashed on the world their new TIM dubbed “Frostbite,” and for good reason.  eVGA claims this new compound is not only better for the extreme cooling crowd, but also superior for everyday users as well.  Not only that, but k|ngp|n himself is signing off on all these claims and endorsing the product for extreme cooling use.

The longtime standard-bearer for extreme cooling has been Arctic Silver’s Céramique, which k|ngp|n and many others have used it for years.  However, over the past year of so, many users have been testing alternatives.  Elmor (a top overclocker from Sweden) swears by OCZ Freeze, and there have been a number of positive reports with several other compounds as well.  Considering all the recent speculation, we needed to take a closer look at this new contender.

eVGA Frostbite

The product is shipped in a blister pack front with cardboard backing.

Frostbite front

On the back there is a simple set of directions for use.  Check that out, 30% silver content!

Frostbite back

Compared to the 22 gram syringe of Ceramique, the Frostbite is quite small…. but goo things often come is small packages. [Editor's note: I don't care if that's a typo, the pun is too good to resist.]

Frostbite VS Ceramique

It is a single 2 gram syringe, which should be enough for 5 or more GPU applications, or 10 or more CPU applications, using my application method (dot for CPU, small X for GPU).  The back side of the syringe allows you to see the amount of compound left.  It might seem too simple to be a big deal, but there have been many times we’ve wished for a level indicator — it’s nice to know whether you have enough TIM left for your next session. Good idea, eVGA!

Frostbite window

At room temperature (24C in this case), the Ceramique is very thick, and squeezing it out of the tube requires patience.  By stark contrast, the Frostbite is almost runny.  However, syringe operation was smooth, and I didn’t get any fluid at the top, nor any squirting messes from the rough syringe action I’ve experienced from other compounds.  Another big win for Frostbite!

Frostbite VS Ceramique consistency 1

To better show consistency differences between our competitors, each was smeared across the paper towel.  The Ceramique wanted to stay in a ball and just roll.  Very little smeared past the first rotation as my finger rolled off the top of the clump.  The Frostbite didn’t soak into the towel, but smeared across the entire length of the movement. It remained very opaque, suggesting its ability to be spread very thin, a big bonus for those with very flat surfaces in a highly tuned daily system or gaming machine.

Frostbite VS Ceramique consistency 2

erformance impressions and bench results

Evaluating TIM objectively in an extreme cooling environment is a very difficult proposition, so my testing will be mostly subjective.  I tested both compounds on the following setup.

System configuration

• (1) Intel Core i7 990X Extreme CPU
• (1) eVGA E760 Classified motherboard
• (1) 3×2GB Corsair Dominator GTX2 memory
• (2) eVGA GTX 285 Classified video cards
• (1) Ultra X3 1000W PSU for motherboard & CPU
• (1) Corsair AX1200 PSU for the GPUs
• (1) k|ngp|ncooling Dragon F1 Gemini with the SLOW base
• (1) k|ngp|ncooling Dominance Memory Cooler
• (1) k|ngp|ncooling Tek-9 5.0 Slim GPU cooler
• (1) k|ngp|ncooling Tek-9 FAT GPU cooler

Application

Arctic Silver Ceramique has always been one of our favorite compounds due to the ease of use.  It can be a bit stiff in the tube (warming it up helps), but getting it on the CPU and spread in a good pattern is nearly fool-proof.

Ceramique application

And as you’ll see below, the spread pattern was very complete.

Ceramique spread - CPU

Ceramique spread - pot

The Frostbite syringe action is top notch and its easy to control application.

Frostbite application

Spread was excellent, and yes, this was the 1st attempt!

Frostbite spread - CPU

Frostbite spread - pot

Corsair Intros the Hydro Series H100 and H80 CPU Water Coolers Review

A little more than a week after the Corsair H80 and H100 water coolers have been listed online by a Swedish retailer, the company decided to make these two high-performance Hydro Series models official.

Both the H80 and the H100 were designed together with CoolIT and use a low-profile cooling unit with a micro-channel copper cold plate and a split-flow manifold.

Right on the CPU block assembly, Corsair has placed a digital fan control button, which allows users to select between three different cooling modes that control the rotation speed of the radiator fans.

Speaking of the radiator, this is the only component to differ between the two Hydro Series coolers, as the H80 comes with an 120mm unit, while the H100 features a 240mm radiator.

This means that the H100 can only be installed in cases with fittings for a standard 240mm radiator, while the H80 is compatible with almost all chassis that feature an 120mm fan mount.

Both the H80 and H100 include a Corsair Link digital connector, which, when combined with the Corsair Link Commander unit and the special Dashboard software, can monitor and control the water cooler'sperformance.

"With the H80 and H100, we've kept our focus on the key features that have made the Hydro Series a success — closed-loop reliability, straightforward installation, and, of course, the best CPU cooling technology available." said Ruben Mookerjee, VP and general manager for Components at Corsair.

"The user-selectable fan control and Corsair Link Digital compatibility gives performance enthusiasts the power to customize their cooling performance and manage fan noise by selecting the amount of cooling they need," concluded the company's rep.

Both the Hydro Series H80 and Hydro Series H100 will be available starting from June, and their recommended retail price is set at $109 and $119, respectively.

Corsair, A-Data launch new SandForce-powered SSDs

Corsair has launched its third-generation Force solid-state drives, delivering SATA 6Gb/s speeds to value-minded consumers. Powered by the same SandForce SF-2281 controller as OCZ's Vertex 3, the Force Series 3 can reportedly hit speeds of up to 550MB/s sequential reads and 520MB/s writes, with up to 85,000 IOPS during 4KB random writes. By comparison, the original Force drives peaked at 280MB/s and 50,000 IOPs. The Vertex 3 240GB lists the same maximum transfer rates as the Force 3, except it supposedly offers 15,000 less IOPS.

Despite claiming similar performance to the Vertex 3 (which most would consider to be today's quickest consumer SSD), Corsair is pushing its latest drives with incredibly aggressive pricing. The 60GB is set at $139, the 120GB costs only $219 while the 240GB is $499 -- all of which are bundled with a 3.5-inch adapter and backed with a three-year warranty. As of writing, the 120GB Vertex 3 is going for $299.99 at Newegg, while the 240GB is $529.99. The Force Series 3 will launch worldwide this month, so keep your eyes peeled for a review.

A-Data revealed its latest contribution to the flash market alongside Corsair's announcement today. Unsurprisingly, the company's new S511 also employs an SF-2200 processor, and we wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it were an SF-2281. A-Data's lineup also consists of 60GB, 120GB and 240GB models with a peak throughput of 550MB/s reads and 520MB/s writes, along with 60,000 IOPS during 4KB random writes. They'll also come with a 3.5-inch adapter and are priced roughly equivalent to the Vertex 3 based on euro to USD conversions.

Corsair Vengeance 12GB DDR3 Memory Kit review

Corsair is back .. with a Vengeance.

The trend for memory these days is simple, more equals better. As such we noticed a lot of memory manufacturers release new kits with 4GB DIMMs as of lately. For the dual-channel range we nowadays spot 8 GB kits (2x4GB) and for that lovely X58 platform (which runs dual-channel just fine btw) we see good retail availability of 12 GB kits, yes Sir ... 3x4GB in your PC to get your groove on ! So ...

• Bigger is better ...
• The more the merrier ...
• Size does matter ...
• Mine's bigger than yours ...
• Die hard ... with a vengeance ?

Ah yes, sorry for the lame clichés here, but Corsair has jumped on the "bigger is better" bandwagon as well and outted their all new vengeance memory. Now we have been claiming it for a while now already, you are far better of with more memory rather than memory with the uber fast timings or the highest clock frequencies.

For X58 / Core i7 based system for example we guarantee you that a nice CAS 8/9 memory kit at 1600 MHz is pure golden in terms of memory bandwidth versus performance versus price. The new trend is ongoing though, we moved from the initially expensive 3GB triple channel kits to a very convenient 6GB in the enthusiast segment. However better yields, better quality ICs allow high-density DIMMs at exemplary timings with excellent frequencies these day, at decent prices as well.

So that move is bold, but you can get yourself 12 GB for just over 200 USD, Corsairs Vengeance memory kit contains three 4GB DIMMs that are low voltage at a default clock of 1600 MHz with a CAS9 latency whilst retaining decent tweaking potential.

Now surely for your typical hardware enthusiast 6GB is just fine, but at roughly 18 USD per GB you can get your system future proof pretty cheap.

And as hard as it will be to show you the benefits of so much RAM memory in your system, surely everybody will agree with me that you can hardly ever have enough RAM memory.

As such today we'll have a look at Corsair's Vengeance 12GB PC3-12800 1600Mhz DDR3 DIMM Memory Kit, it will be exceptionally hard to show you any performance difference in-between 6GB and 12GB, but any transcoding, photoshopping, productivity enthusiast with at little common sense will conclude with us, this kit is going to be one heck of a deal.

Corsair CMZ12GX3M3A1600C9 (4GBx3)

So the memory kit tested today comes from Corsair's Vengeance series armed with ICs all packed nicely under a stylish aluminum heat spreader sitting on top of the DIMM module. Here are its specification:

• Series - Vengeance
• Model CMZ12GX3M3A1600C9
• Type 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM Tech Spec
• Capacity 12GB (3 x 4GB)
• Speed DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
• Cas Latency 9
• Timing 9-9-9-24
• Voltage 1.5V
• Triple Channel Kit
• Heat Spreader
• Compatible with Intel P55 chipset Manufacturer Warranty
• Parts Lifetime limited
• Labor Lifetime limited

The memory itself is maximized to the utmost stability and user friendly experience. Some Corsair PR skinny:

Corsair Vengeance DDR3 memory modules are designed with overclockers in mind. Vengeance DIMMs are built using RAM specially selected for their high-performance potential. Aluminum heat spreaders help dissipate heat, and provide the aggressive look that you want in your gaming rig.

Vengeance memory is designed specifically for the latest CPUs. The 1.5V VDIMM spec ensures you get the performance you expect, even without increasing memory voltages. Vengeance DDR3 memory is available in single modules, and two or three module kits.

Most Vengeance DIMMs are built with two gigabit RAM ICs. These extra-dense memory chips allow you to have 8GB of memory using only two DIMMs, or to populate your triple channel system with up to an insanely large 24GB of system memory for extreme multitasking performance.

The Vengeance kits come in several volume sizes, 4, 8, 12 and even a 16 GB dual-channel kit is available. We'll of course fool around with the 12GB triple channel kit.

Once installed, go in the BIOS and if supported, select the XMP profile for the memory and after a reboot you are good to go. If you do not have a proper working XMP profile option in your BIOS, set the 9:9:9:24 timing manually and make sure you set DIMM voltage to 1.50V ... this is literally 10 seconds of work.

This three DIMMs / 12 gigabyte DDR3 kit is available for just over 200 USD or roughly 170 EUR, head on over to the next page where we'll startup a product photo-shoot after which this article will dive into a benchmark session. Hey, we know you like it !

Product Gallery

Packaging, hey we show you everything my man, we always start off with packaging so you know what to look for in the stores -- it's as simple as that really.

Here we have the DIMMs after unpacking. This is the 12GB 1600 MHz kit = PC3 12800 with 3x 4GB DIMMs. Overall a nice design, wish that the PCB would have been black though (!)

The heat spreaders are made out of aluminum for optimal heat conductivity. This kit can manage latencies of 9-9-9-24 at 1.50 Volts, and that is pretty impressive stuff for memory this dense alright. Also it runs at a command rate of 1T, which is great.

With expensive memory you often some extras. As always Corsair offers a life-time warranty with these memory modules, you can't beat that. Look at the heat spreaders, it's fairly unusual to see a design like that. One thing is a sure fact, you either like or hate the aesthetics. The green PCB bothers me a little though. Styling wise that's a missed opportunity. The sticker with the yellow Vengeance branding .. meeh could have been left out as far as I am concerned.

The heatspreader is designed to enhance heat dissipation allowing (in theory) better tweaks and overclocks. As a result this is not a low profile memory. The idea is that heat is moved away from the actual memory chips and this increases potential overclocking and stability.

Very simple stuff, but the details of the modules can be read from a small sticker. You can spot the SKU code and generic info on there. Also primary info like latencies are displayed. It's good to see voltages being reported on there as well. A lot of memory producers lack this info, yet it is so important. Missing on the sticker is the command rate though.

Last but not least, the actual packaging, so you know what to look for in the stores.

Refer To : http://www.guru3d.com/