Photofast G-Monster V4 ZIF SSD User Review

Hi Mass,

It should be 30 - 40 MB WRITE, anyway, here are the results:

Sequential Read : 88.800 MB/s
Sequential Write : 39.694 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 81.098 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 20.592 MB/s
Random Read 4KB : 13.888 MB/s
Random Write 4KB : 1.850 MB/s
Test Size : 100 MB

And some CPU info:
Name Intel Pentium M
Codename Dothan
Specification Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.20GHz
Package Socket 479 mPGA (platform ID = 5h)

And some Chipset info:
Northbridge Intel i915GMS/i910GML rev. B1
Southbridge Intel 82801FBM (ICH6-M) rev. 04
Memory Type DDR2

And some Disk Info:
Model=GMonster-50IDE V4 SSD 128GB, FwRev=VATP1281, SerialNo=20091216-012
Config={ Fixed }
RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=0, SectSize=0, ECCbytes=0
BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=0kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=off
CurCHS=16383/16/63, CurSects=16514064, LBA=yes, LBAsects=234881024
IORDY=yes, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
PIO modes: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
DMA modes: sdma0 sdma1 sdma2 mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5 udma6
AdvancedPM=no WriteCache=enabled
Drive conforms to: unknown: ATA/ATAPI-1 ATA/ATAPI-2 ATA/ATAPI-3 ATA/ATAPI-4 ATA/ATAPI-5 ATA/ATAPI-6 ATA/ATAPI-7

ATA device, with non-removable media
Model Number: GMonster-50IDE V4 SSD 128GB
Serial Number: 20091216-012
Firmware Revision: VATP1281
Transport: Parallel, ATA8-APT
Standards:
Used: unknown (minor revision code 0x0039)
Supported: 8 7 6 5
Likely used: 8
Configuration:
Logical max current
cylinders 16383 16383
heads 16 16
sectors/track 63 63
--
CHS current addressable sectors: 16514064
LBA user addressable sectors: 234881024
LBA48 user addressable sectors: 234881024
device size with M = 1024*1024: 114688 MBytes
device size with M = 1000*1000: 120259 MBytes (120 GB)
Capabilities:
LBA, IORDY(cannot be disabled)
Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, no device specific minimum
R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16 Current = 16
DMA: sdma0 sdma1 sdma2 mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 *udma5 udma6
Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
Cycle time: no flow control=120ns IORDY flow control=120ns
Commands/features:
Enabled Supported:
* SMART feature set
Security Mode feature set
* Power Management feature set
* Write cache
Look-ahead
* Host Protected Area feature set
* WRITE_BUFFER command
* READ_BUFFER command
* NOP cmd
* DOWNLOAD_MICROCODE
SET_MAX security extension
* 48-bit Address feature set
* Mandatory FLUSH_CACHE
* FLUSH_CACHE_EXT
Security:
Master password revision code = 65534
supported
not enabled
not locked
frozen
not expired: security count
supported: enhanced erase
2min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT. 2min for ENHANCED SECURITY ERASE UNIT.
HW reset results:
CBLID- above Vih
Device num = 0 determined by the jumper
Checksum: correct

Regards
Martin

 

recieved my 128GB V4 today. Screws are sealed with stickers, can't check which controller it uses.

will post my results later

/edit

found out which controller is used

http://eastwho.com/pro_02.html

Never heard of them

 

Hello Trabireiter:

Have you had success with the drive? Can you post your CrystalDiskMark scores along with your computer make, processor, chipset and OS; also is the drive ZIF, 50 pin IDE or IDE?

Thanks.

 

Hi Baspro

128GB Model, ZIF

Sony TZ31 (European model), U7700 (1,2GHz ULV c2d), Windows7, 945GM

Speeds are (from memory)
Sequential Read : 8x,x MB/s
Sequential Write : 5x,x MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 8x,x MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 2x,x MB/s
Random Read 4KB : 16,x MB/s
Random Write 4KB : 2,x MB/s

regards,
Lutz

 

Hello Lutz:

Thanks for posting. I think the TZ31 ships with the ICH7-M southbridge chip.

It would be great to see more scores for machines with the ICH6-M chip. If anyone has a machine with the ICH6-M, please post your scores. Thanks.

 

Anywhere that sells this 128gb version for less then 600 bucks?

 

DV NATION $599 but out of stock.>>
Have emailed them last week and the guy told me restocking should occur sometime in March

Ebay $609.

I don't think u will find any price reduction for the time being

 

QTE

Today, 02:52 AM #4
nando4
NBR Freelance Reviewer



Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,207
Rep Power: 13
Re: 1.8" Zif Pata Ssd Enclosure
Yes, the Photofast will offer a performance improvement, low power consumption and great compatability.
__________________
Misc: DIY ViDock | Lenovo Petition ........ Overclocking PLL pinmod | grub2 bootloader | Toolkit
Storage 1.8" ZIF SSDs: Runcore ProIV, Photofast V4 | SSD/HDD using ODD caddy | sata-to-zif adapter | e-sata/usb

Now: 12.1" HP 2510P [email protected] 2GB 64GB ProIV SSD + 500GB/caddy + HD5750/3dmark06=7341 | Win7 XP.sp3 Ubuntu9.10
Next (2010): 12" 32nm + expresscard 2.0+HD5870/3dmark06=22k

UNQTE

With the SAMSUNG 64gb SSD running Vista32 tweaked/clean install I can easily get 9:35hrs of battery life >> View attachment 47914

Any clue if battery life with the PHOTO V4 will increase / if so figure out what ./.

 

those sammies are pretty effiecient as well. I guess that the photofast will be on par in terms of battery live, but it will be much faster performance wise

 

--------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 2.2 (C) 2007-2008 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
--------------------------------------------------

Sequential Read : 55.436 MB/s
Sequential Write : 32.229 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 55.425 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 18.580 MB/s
Random Read 4KB : 11.446 MB/s
Random Write 4KB : 1.329 MB/s

Test Size : 100 MB
Date : 2010/04/05 2:03:20


+++++++++
That's for the SAMSUNG

Next couple of weeks I shall have the PHOTO V4 running and will post the results

 

Hi all,

I was wondering if anybody is using this disk with full disk encryption and how the performance is using it ?

regards,

René

 

I may let you know when mine comes in >>

 

that would be great... when will you expect it and which encryption software will you use ? mcAfee ?

 

I was gonna order it this week > $600 <however as always something comes up > my car broke down ? I figure I will place an order next couple of weeks + 5-7 days for delivery > I would say it should be up and running beginning of May.

** Using AIRSNARE + MSE

 

I was ready to place an order with DV NATION however they are out of stock 128GB SSD V4.

 

That almost seems standard.. When you have the money a shop is out of stock.. Happened to me a few times as well.. Patience

 

I just bought a 128GB V4 50 pin Photofast for someone for their P7230. It will upgrade the V2 Photofast drive i bought for them.
I will sell of the original drive and the 64GB SSD down the line. Hopefully i can make about £180 at least for both drives.

I paid £377/$548 for this SSD with free ship. Ebay prices are more expensive than retail prices.

They really needed more storage space.

I bought them external storage space but they use this computer a lot now and since i upgraded it to a core duo processor the performance is ok.

The chipset it uses is the same as the TZ the 945GMS.

I looked at the 128GB Kingspec drives and those are quite reasonable price wise on ebay at around £250. However, this drive has better performance and also it has lower power consumption.

The Kingspec was reported as having quite high power consumption but if it is anything like the V2 Photofast i bought i thought it was ok and no worse than the original drive anyway.

Hopefully i will see an improvement with this drive.

 

The Photofast V4 is not the fastest drive around, and not the cheapest either!

BUT it's super reliable, it consumes little power and it keeps it's performance. I had a runcore before and i keep reading their forums... I can just say I'm so glad i exchanged it (it failed pretty fast) and went for the runcore.

I have had no problems since i installed it (beginning of this year) and I'm so happy whenever i use my notebook for not having to wait hours to watch apps loading.

 

It looks like RUNCORE is coming up with new 1.8 ZIF SSD > TRIM and pricewise should be more affordable than PHOTOFAST.

 

Could still be a high risk option unless Runcore addresses all the issues it seems to be encountering with compatibility and reliability. I had two Runcore's in 2 months before moving to the Photofast which has been reliable since I got it about 5 months ago

 

Yes you are right regarding RUNCORE.
I've been following some discussions on TWEAKTOWNFORUM
Runcore and there are too many issues.

Let's wait and see what is coming up

 

A 128GB V4 50 pin IDE Photofast drive inside a P7230 U7600, 2GB, ICH7 945GMS laptop with 256 of shared ram available.

I think the V2 128GB results might not be far of. I bought the V2 64GB drive prior but upgraded for storage purposes. The V4 drive feels faster though. I haven't noticed that the V4 drive has any better battery life than the V2 drive.





I found it pretty impossible to do an install from a backup with these drves. None of my laptops also recognised these drives plugged in via my external drive.

 

I own the 2.5" 44-pin IDE 64GB V2 and it has the following performance :





Above are on ICH4-M and UDMA-5...


Details are on comments of photo, though i think the basic is that it is Aligned 2048 sectors and i removed INTEL drivers (Write Limit @ 16MB/s) and use microsoft ones...