PNY Optima SSD Series Review (240 GB) – New Controller and a Wicked Price

CRYSTAL DISK BENCHMARK VER. 3.0.3 x64

Crystal Disk Benchmark is visually straightforward, and is used for measuring the speeds at which your storage device reads and writes in both compressible (oFill/1Fill) and random, mostly incompressible, data. Random data is more consistent with everyday use of a computer, such as transferring videos, pictures and music. We run the benchmark twice, using oFill data first, and then proceeding to test with random data. Since results typically return with nearly identical scores, we only include the results for random data samples.

Through our second benchmark test, the solid state drive returned with similar results as ATTO above. This is interesting as usually when we switch from using compressible data in ATTO, to incompressible data with Crystal Disk Mark, we see a decrease in performance. Instead we see similar results that are only slightly lower when looking at read speeds.

AS SSD BENCHMARK VER. 1.7

AS SSD Benchmark uses incompressible data in their testing of SSDs, essentially providing results that would be consistent with using the heaviest workload, thus lower speeds are expected. Transfer speeds (MB/s) are seen in the left picture below and IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) are on the right.

The PNY OPTIMA outperformed expectations in our third test, with the random read and write operations exceeding the 60,000 IOPS. The total score comes in at 918, which is lower than drives we have seen in the past, but still decent considering how much this drive costs. Another interesting feature of the AS SSD Benchmark is that it also can test  durations and speeds of copying various files, this is an important test for our digital media professionals who require top transfer speeds.

This is the only disappointing test we have come in contact with when testing out the PNY OPTIMA SSD. We really would have liked to have seen some higher speeds when transferring ISO files, especially when in past benchmarks tests this criteria almost always breaks out above the 300 MB/s mark.

ANVIL STORAGE UTILITIES PROFESSIONAL (BETA)

Anvil Storage Utilities is essentially an all-in-one tool for all of your SSD benchmarking needs. Anvil can be used for basic consumer testing, as well as endurance testing and threaded I/O read, write and mixed tests. It displays data regarding the SSD, and even about your system

The PNY OPTIMA SSD makes a comeback with ASU, with read speeds again exceeding listed specs, and write speeds coming in just below and the SSD still produced a decent total score of 3932. Remember … for $0.45/GB this is pretty good!

PCMARK VANTAGE X64 HDD SUITE

The SSD Review uses benchmark software called PCMark Vantage x64 HDD Suite to create testing scenarios that might be used in the typical user experience. There are eight tests in all and the tests performed record the speed of data movement in MB/s to which they are then given a numerical score after all of the tests are complete. The simulations are as follows:

• Windows Defender In Use
• Streaming Data from storage in games such as Alan Wake which allows for massive worlds and riveting non-stop action
• Importing digital photos into Windows Photo Gallery
• Starting the Vista Operating System
• Home Video editing with Movie Maker which can be very time-consuming
• Media Center which can handle video recording, time shifting and streaming from Windows media center to an extender such as Xbox
• Cataloging a music library
• Starting applications

PNY OPTIMA SSD VANTAGE TOTAL SCORE

In PCMark Vantage, the PNY OPTIMA SSD performed pretty well, with five of the eight tests exceeding the 300 MB/s mark, reaching as high as 414 MB/s when using Windows Media Center. The newest PNY solid state drive also pumped out a total score of 71877, which is higher than expected considering the previous test results.