Three months ago we tested the first SandForce-based solid-state drive when OCZ treated us with a sample of the Vertex 2 Pro. As a true newcomer to the SSD market place, the new controller took us by surprise with encouraging results, but the fact remained that this was an enterprise grade production and few consumers were e'er going to lay their hands on 1 of these drives. At the time we were besides told that a successor to the original consumer-oriented Vertex would be arriving just a few months downwardly the road.

Then last March nosotros got a sense of taste of what the Vertex two would be all virtually with the OCZ Vertex Limited Edition. This was function of a limited run and somewhat obscure bargain that had OCZ producing 5,000 units of speedy solid-state drives armed with a hybrid SandForce SF-1200/1500 controller. The Vertex LE delivered performance that was comparable to the unreleased Vertex two Pro, which used the loftier-terminate SF-1500 controller.

Hard to say if OCZ overestimated demand but it's been near 2 months and you tin can yet buy the Express Edition drives that come in 100GB and 200GB flavors. Still, we were even so left waiting for the truthful successor of the highly popular Vertex, and here it is, in our lab prepare for testing and expected to be hitting shelves pretty shortly.

The OCZ Vertex 2 is based on the more affordable SandForce SF-1200 controller and it'southward actually expected to outperform the Vertex LE. This is not a mainstream part, though. OCZ volition be targeting performance oriented users with the Vertex 2 while dropping down the toll of the original Vertex to service the mainstream segment.

Completing OCZ's new SSD line-upward is the Agility ii that will also use the SF-1200 controller and should offering a slightly less agressive and more than affordable option to the Vertex 2. The original Agility SSDs will target the lower finish of the spectrum, along with the Solid 2 and the upcoming Onyx drives that will be based on a new Indilinx Amigos controller.

Currently, the original Vertex is selling for around $350 for the 120GB version, which is considered to exist an ok value considering that Intel drives have been dropping in price. The Vertex 2 will be priced at $399 for the 100GB model, while the 50GB and 200GB drives volition cost $219 and $769, respectively. The question remains what kind of operation improvements nosotros tin can expect and whether it justifies the cost premium. Read on to find out.