Corsair has started rolling out the new SSD series Force 3. The SSDs build on the critically acclaimed SandForce SF-2281 controller and will be available in stores in May. After that they will become Corsair’s biggest weapon on the enthusiast market, in touch competition with similar models from e.g. OCZ.
Corsair Force 3 is based on the same SandForce SSD controller found under the hood of OCZ Vertex 3. We took a shine to the SSD when we tested the 240GB model earlier this year. A whole lot has happened since then and according to Corsair the performance of the Force 3 is even more impressive.
With its SATA 6.0 Gbps interface and DuraWrite technology the SandForce powered SSDs will reach up to MB/s at sequential readand 520 MB/s at sequential writes. Corsair claims that the first Force 3 series will do up to 85,000 IOPS at random 4K writes, which is even better than OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS, at least on paper.
Corsair launches three different models in the Force 3 series. The units all use the same controller and 25nm MLC NAND flash memory, buth the capacity and performance varies from model to model. The units are sold with 3 year warranty and ships with a 2.5″ to 3.5″ adapter.
| SSD | Corsair F3 60GB | Corsair F3 120GB | Corsair F3 240GB | OCZ Vertex 3 IOPS 120 |
| Controller | SF-2281 | SF-2281 | SF-2281 | SF-2281 |
| NAND flash | 25nm | 25nm | 25nm | 25nm Micron |
| Interface | SATA 6.0 Gbps | SATA 6.0 Gbps | SATA 6.0 Gbps | SATA 6.0 Gbps |
| Capacity | 60 GB | 120 GB | 240 GB | 120GB |
| Read speed |
Uncertain | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s |
| Write speed |
Uncertain | 510 MB/s | 520 MB/s | 500 MB/s |
| 4K write speed |
Uncertain | 85 000 IOPS | 85 000 IOPS | 75 000 IOPS |
| MTBF | 1,500,000 hours | 1,500,000 hours | 1,500,000 hours | 2,000,000 hours |
Specifications are far from the whole truth, but we look forward to seeing more SF-2281 SSDs on the market since the controller is ibviously the best performing right now.
