And The Winner Is... (Surprise)

Typically, when we run these "versus" type articles it's difficult to choice a clear winner considering the contest is and then stiff. This, notwithstanding, was not a closely contested battle. Blows were non traded dorsum and forth. Instead, Crucial's v4 assumed the fetal position and was repeatedly pummeled by OCZ's Agility 4 in our tests.

On boilerplate, the Agility 4 was lx% faster than the v4 in our file transfer operations. This was backed past PCMark 7's benchmarks, which too revealed a threescore% gap favoring OCZ's unit of measurement. Crucial's v4 had its all-time showing in our existent-globe application testing, simply even then it lingered behind the Agility 4 by a disconcerting 30%.

Evidently the v4'due south SATA 3Gb/s limitation and its controller hinder the drive's speed, merely this is intended. Crucial argues that its upkeep offer delivers the right residuum of functioning at the right cost and that 6Gb/s support is overkill for most users as they are unable to utilise this new interface.

"In society to complement many pre-2011 systems, we thought it made sense to deliver a mainstream solution that would relieve customers money while maintaining a loftier level of SSD performance. Since the Crucial v4 SSD doesn't include pricey features that cater to high-performance systems, we're able to offer a high-quality product at an affordable price," the visitor told us. That sounds great, but does information technology hold true?

Not really. Both the v4 and Agility iv launched at $190 and the v4 has since been cut to $180. At those price points we don't believe the v4 has a leg to stand on, regardless of whether or not your system supports SATA 6Gb/s. The v4 couldn't max SATA 3Gb/south, so the Agility four should withal exist faster when using that interface.

With the v4 existence unworthy of consideration, the real question becomes: should yous purchase an Agility 4 or a Vertex four?

Call back we said contest is commonly strong?... As of writing, the 256GB Agility four is only $x cheaper than the 256GB Vertex 4, still the latter is 17% faster in our existent-globe app tests and 48% faster when measuring file transfers. In other words, the Agility 4 doesn't deliver the same value equally the Vertex iv, and nosotros don't see how $x of full savings would make a difference there.

Our advice is to spend a footling extra on the Vertex four or even the Crucial m4 (not the v4) for the extra operation, unless y'all come across a deal where the Agility four is significantly cheaper than such flagships.

OCZ Agility four 256GB scorecard

Pros: Solid functioning that is but trounce by the flagship crop. Attractive chapters for a mainstream SSD.

Cons: The Agility 4 similar previous revisions tries to offer mainstream value, the simply issue is that the Vertex 4 and other faster models cost pretty much the aforementioned leaving no room for compromises.

Crucial v4 256GB scorecard

Pros: Peachy capacity in a SSD but that's virtually information technology. Expensive versus the competition, including Crucial's own m4.

Cons: Weak performance. Crucial hindered the v4 likewise much and it shows. SATA 3Gb/s. The bulldoze is not on par with today's drives, regardless of toll point.