Intel Z68 Express with Smart Response Technology
Smart Response SSD Cache Testing (cont.)
Although the higher transfer rates that come from enabling Intel’s Smart Response technology sometimes resulted in a many-fold increase in bandwidth in the PCMark Vantage HDD tests, the effect on overall system performance isn’t quite as dramatic.
The graph pictured above shows the overall PCMark scores of our Z68 Express-based test system when equipped with only a hard drive and with Smart Response technology enabled. As you can see, using either mode, the system performed significantly better, to the tune of 35% to 40%.
;) WD Raptor 10K RPM |
;) Smart Response (Enhanced Mode) |
;) Smart Response (Maximized Mode) |
;) Intel SSD 311 Series |
To further illustrate the effect Smart Response technology has on storage performance, we also ran a few tests with CrystalDiskMark. Once again, this test shows the huge increases in transfer speed realized when Smart Response is enabled. This test, however, also shows the write performance advantage “Maximized” mode has over “Enhanced” mode. Maximized mode’s write back cache mode offers significantly better writes, but as we’ve mentioned, the is a risk of data loss using this mode in the event of a power outage.
