For those that don’t know, SSD caching (Intel Smart Response) is a feature built in to Intel Z68 Sandy Bridge motherboards where you can add a smaller volume SSD to your existing platter based hard drive to increase overall system performance. Users often experience a quicker more responsive system after doing this. That’s great if you have a Z68 system and don’t want to spend $200 on a new SSD to speed things up. But, what about users who don’t have an Intel Z68 based system?
OCZ has a new product called the Synapse Cache SSD. This line of products provides SSD caching on any system including AMD and or any Intel motherboard that does not have Intel Smart Response built in. The best part is that you don’t have to reinstall the operating system which really makes the upgrade process easy. The questions is, does it perform? Let’s find out!
Features and Specifications
OCZ’s Synapse Cache SSD uses MLC NAND Flash in two different sizes: A 64GB and a 128GB model. Both of these specially prepared SSDs are supported by the included Dataplex software whereas Intel Smart Response both motherboard and software to work. Unlike the Intel technology, the Synapse Cache can us more than 64GB for caching. The series naturally offers native TRIM support, ECC recovery as well as data encryption.
Looking at the 64GB model, max read data rates are up to 550 MB/s while max write data rates level up to 490 MB/s. The 128GB model offers max read up to 550 MB/s and write up to 510 MB/s. These transfer rates are very similar to OCZ’s flag ship Vertex 3 SSD because both utilize the current SandForce SF-2200 series controller and SATA3 interface.
Finally, we come to the pricing of the series. The Synapse Cache 64GB SSD costs $154.99 and the 128GB SSD costs up to $254.99 US/CA respectively. These are priced just a little higher than most SSDs on the market, but are anything but regular SSDs as we’ll find out soon enough.
What’s in the Box?
The Synapse Cache SSD bundle is pretty simple when you get down to it. But then, so are 90% of most the SSDs available on the market. Inside the box is a well padded container which protects the SSD, adapter drive plate and Dataplex software disc. Since most folks have plenty of left over SSD data cables in their motherboard box, I can partially over look not including one. However, cables are as cheap as fifty cents these days and it wouldn’t hurt for every manufacturer to include one just in case. Especially since this product will likely be used as an upgrade rather than as a part of a new build.
The most important items are your SSD which has the Dataplex software key sticker near the back and the software disc. If you happen to lose your disc, it can also be found online. But, do not lose your key sticker.
A Closer Look
The OCZ Synapse’s purpose is to provide an easy cache performance upgrade to any system where the user doesn’t want to worry about having to buy a costlier new CPU and Z68 motherboard or even worry about reinstalling the OS on a new SSD. This is especially great when things are still running so smoothly on the system today. It can be a really big inconvenience to have to reinstall an OS. It’s far easier just to add the Synapse.
Caching easily increases system responsiveness especially if you’re regularly loading large programs for things like video editing or even large games. While it doesn’t increase a gaming system’s frame rates, it does cut down game load times. The questions that need answering are whether or not Synapse really works on any current chipset, how fast is it and just how fast is Dataplex versus Intel Smart Response performance. Let’s get to it!
Setting Up the Test System
Testing the Synapse Cache SSD means testing on a few different systems utilizing various chipsets. For this reason, the Synapse Cache 64GB model was tested on the following primary systems:
- Processor – Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge
- Motherboard – ASRock Z68 Extreme 7 Gen 3
- Memory: Kingston HyperX 4GB Genesis @ 1333MHz
- Graphics: ZOTAC GTX 560 Ti
- OS Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA2 7200.11
- Cache SSD 1: OCZ Synapse Cache 64GB (Dataplex)
- Cache SSD 2: Kingston 64GB SSDNow V+100 (Intel Smart Response)
Synapse works fine on any Intel Z68 platform even when using Intel Rapid Storage Technology software. However, IRST shouldn’t be installed when using OCZ’s Dataplex software. I also tested Synapse on an ASUS Sabertooth P67, GIGABYTE G1 Killer Assassin and GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD6 motherboards with similar results. In fact, the scores were also all very similar in PCMark7 tests. Let’s get to installation and scores.
Installing Synapse and Dataplex Software
You install a Synapse Cache SSD in the same SATA port series as your primary OS hard drive. For example, both should be in SATA2 or SATA3 ports. Also, the system’s SATA storage BIOS option should be set to RAID. If it isn’t, Windows may encounter a blue screen because there’s no driver loaded and the registry is not set up. If this happens, use this Microsoft RAID Fix. Finally, you can install OCZ’s Datacache software which pretty much walks itself through to till it’s complete.
The installation process was the same and successful on all four test systems regardless of their chipsets. I checked to make sure it was running properly each time. Now that we know that it works, the real question now is just what kind of engine is under the hood and whether or not Dataplex is better than Intel Smart Response. Let’s find out.
CrystalDiskMark – Comparing the Synapse against a Patriot Pyro 120GB
To get a better idea as to design of the Synapse SSD, I compared it to a Patriot Pyro 64GB which uses Asynchronous NAND and SandForce SF-2281 controller as well. This benchmark uses intense data compression which gives an unusually more accurate estimate as to the real world transfer rate average.
Using the 100MB test setting, we see there’s almost a 60MB/s write average possible with the Pyro 64GB SATA3 SSD. That’s a good chunk of consistent data transfer and quite a bit more than a average SATA2 SSD.
OCZ Synapse 128GB Cache SSD
While the sequential and 512K scores are about 30MB/s difference, it’s the 4K that really influences overall system characteristics like boot and program access times. The better tuned 4K data should influence other benchmark scores as well. Let’s look at PCMark7.
Synapse Dataplex vs Intel Rapid Storage: PCMark7
PCMark7 is a benchmark which tests a computer’s full range of component and peripheral resources which includes computation, video, web, storage and even 3D performance. Data transfer rates heavily impact the benchmarks overall performance and we ran it three times to give the caching a chance to get settled. If you compare the non-cache and Dataplex score details, you can see how it caching effects the system excluding storage which wouldn’t be very high due to the SATA2 platter drive.
As you can see above, caching is very beneficial to overall system performance. Interestingly, the Synapse did better in Computation and Productivity when controlled by Intel Rapid Storage drivers. Otherwise, the Pyro and Synapse both offered comparable performance since both are SATA3 SandForce 2281 controlled SSDs. Both incidentally also scored similarly in CrystalDiskMark bandwidth tests.
However, Dataplex obviously does a better job of managing the Synapse SSD. The overall score is very clear evidence. It’s quite possible that a little more software tuning could further improve Synapse’s overall performance. That would increase overall performance again possibly further sealing the deal for the purchase of one of these easy to drop in upgrades.
Final Thoughts
OCZ’s Synapse Cache solid state drives work quite well at offering a relatively important performance increase to non-Z68 motherboards. Users will see quicker program load and execution thanks to its fast caching feature. This is also achieved without formatting the existing hard drive, reinstalling the OS or having to buy a new system just to get the increased performance. While the installation process is a bit simpler to set up than Intel Rapid Storage, Dataplex is also faster than a Z68 chipset when it comes to overall performance. That is the heart of Synapse’s value proposition which seems to be better performance for any system.
OCZ’s Synapse Cache SSD product is meant for users who want a cheaper, no-fuss SSD caching alternative to a full system upgrade or even an OS re-installation on a new SSD. Synapse’s performance and cost probably won’t appeal to current Intel Z68 system owners or users that want a full sized SSD to hold their OS. That said, the cost of the 64GB Synapse is $154.99 and 128GB $254.99 are not comparable to pricing for similar sized SSDs. The Z68 friendly Agility 3 60GB SATA3 SSD starts at $89.99 and puts more perspective on what you’re paying for: The Dataplex software.
If you have an older system that could use a performance kick in the pants, I recommend the fastest, easiest implementable performance caching solution available. And that solution today is the OCZ Synapse Cache. It is exactly what the doctor ordered for that old but still bitchin’ X58 system or any other system that doesn’t have Intel’s Smart Response technology built in.
Pros
- Compatible with any system
- Improves overall system performance
- Saves from having to rebuild or install a fresh OS
- Don’t have to build a new Z68 system
- Very easy to install and setup
- Good SATA3 transfer rates
Cons
- More expensive than regular non-cache SSDs
- Check the OS RAID fix if you have setup issues
Overall Rating: 9.0 / 10.0
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