ocz_revodrive_3_ssd.pngToday, CDRLabs brings you a review of OCZ's 120GB RevoDrive 3 PCIe SSD.  Designed with power users and multimedia designers in mind, this bootable, workstation-class SSD employs a PCIe 2.0 4x interface as well as two SandForce SF-2281 controllers in RAID 0 to deliver up to 1000MB/s read and 925MB/s write speeds as well as a maximum of 130,000 4KB random write IOPS. The RevoDrive 3 also features OCZ’s proprietary Virtualized Controller Architecture (VCA) 2.0 which provides TRIM support and SMART data monitoring.

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sandisk_extreme_ssd.pngCDRLabs has taken an in depth look at SanDisk's 240GB Extreme solid state drive. Designed with enthusiasts and gamers in mind, this high-performance SSD is powered by LSI's SandForce SF-2281 processor and features a SATA 6GB/s interface, native TRIM support and DuraClass technology. The Extreme also uses a custom firmware and SanDisk's own 24nm MLC Toggle Mode NAND flash to deliver up to 555MB/s read and 520MB/s write speeds for fast boot times and application launches. 

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lite-on_eseu206_drive.pngToday, CDRLabs brings you a review of Lite-On's external slim Blu-ray combo drive, the eSEU206. This lightweight, USB-powered drive is capable of 8x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 4x DVD±R DL and 5x DVD-RAM writing speeds and can read Blu-ray Discs at speeds as high as 6x. The eSEU206 also offers support for HP's LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling system as well as Lite-On's own SMART technologies. To top it all off, the drive comes with CyberLink's Blu-ray Disc Suite which includes software capable of playing back Blu-ray movies in 3D.

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CDRLabs has taken a long overdue look at Samsung's 128GB SSD 830 Series solid state drive. Designed and built completely in-house, the SSD 830 is powered by Samsung's own triple-core MCX controller and features a SATA 6GB/s interface as well as wear-leveling and garbage collection algorithms for sustained performance and reliability. The 830 Series also packs 256MB of on-board cache and uses Samsung's 20nm-class Toggle DDR NAND flash memory to deliver up to 520MB/s read and 400MB/s write speeds.

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silicon_power_v30_ssd.pngCDRLabs has taken an in depth look at Silicon Power's 120GB Velox Series V30 solid state drive. Available in capacities ranging from 60GB up to 480GB, the V30 is powered by SandForce's SF-2281 processor and features a SATA 6GB/s interface, native TRIM support and DuraWrite technology. Silicon Power's new SSD also uses MLC NAND flash to deliver up to 550MB/s read and 520MB/s write speeds as well as a maximum of 85,000 4KB random write IOPS.

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Today, CDRLabs brings you a review of OCZ's Synapse Cache solid state drive. Available in 64GB and 128GB capacities, this new SSD is powered by SandForce's SF-2281 processor and uses 25nm asynchronous NAND to deliver up to 550MB/s read and 510MB/s write speeds. This by itself is impressive, but what really sets the Synapse Cache apart from other SSDs on the market is that it has been optimized for caching applications. When used alongside a standard hard drive, it provides users with SSD-level performance across its entire capacity. The included Dataplex cache software dynamically monitors and manages user data, creating an environment where the most frequently used "hot" data stays on the SSD, while the "cold" data remains on the larger capacity hard drive.

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silicon_power_stream_s10_drive.pngCDRLabs has taken a long overdue look at Silicon Power's Stream S10 USB 3.0 portable hard drive. Available in capacities ranging from 320GB up to 1TB, this lightweight drive sports a simple curvaceous design as well as an eye catching, metallic paint job with a fingerprint free finish. The Stream S10 also features a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface which allows transfer speeds up to 10x faster than USB 2.0. To top it all off, the drive comes with a carrying case, Silicon Power's SP Widget backup and security software, and is also covered by a 3-year warranty.

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sony_bdx-s600u_drive.jpgCDRLabs has taken an in depth look at Sony's new portable 6x Blu-ray Disc writer, the BDX-S600U. This sleek and lightweight drive is capable of 6x BD-R, 6x BD-R DL and 2x BD-RE writing speeds and a maximum BD-ROM read speed of 6x. On top of that, it offers support for 3 and 4-layer BDXL media, which can hold up to 128GB of data on a single disc. The BDX-S600U is also designed to be powered completely off a computer's USB bus and includes features like a 6MB buffer, Power-Burn buffer underrun protection and CyberLink's Media Suite 8.

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CDRLabs finishes up the week with a review of Plextor's new 256GB M3S series SSD, the PX-256M3S. Powered by Plextor's True Speed technology, the M3S series uses high quality components like Marvell's server-grade 88SS9174 controller chip and Toshiba's 24nm Toggle NAND flash to deliver up to 525MB/s read and 445MB/s write speeds. The M3S also features exclusive firmware with Instant Restore, Global Wear Leveling, and Bad Block Management to maintain original performance levels, even after intensive use and long periods of operation.

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kingston_dthx30_drive.jpgCDRLabs kicks off the New Year with a review of Kingston's latest USB 3.0 flash drive, the DataTraveler HyperX 3.0. Designed with enthusiasts and gamers in mind, the DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 is Kingston's fastest and largest capacity USB flash drive to date. Available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities, the drive uses an 8-channel controller to deliver up to 225MB/s read and 135MB/s write speeds. The DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 also sports a durable metal and rubberized case and is backed by a five-year warranty.

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