Average Bench: 68.6% (699th of 1080)

Based on 25,948 user benchmarks.  Models: OCZ-VERTEX3, OCZ-VERT OCZ-VERTEX3, OCZ-VERTEX3 LP, OCZ-VERT EX3

The 120GB OCZ Vertex 3 is almost 3 years old which makes it twice as old as most of the drives in the group test. With sequential peak and average read/write speeds of 510/157 and 390/130 MB/s the 120GB Vertex 3 has good read speeds but lags the group leaders by 50% at writing. This is explained by its Sandforce 2281 controller which is infamous for stability issues and relatively slow incompressible data write speeds. Small file 4K peak and average read/write speeds clocked in at 31/103 and 23/61 MB/s which matches the group leaders, a superb result considering the Vertex 3's age. Overall the 120GB Vertex 3 has an effective speed of 383 MB/s which is only 16% lower than the group leaders which averaged 444 MB/s. The Vertex is a capable drive let down only by its relatively slow peak sequential write speed of 157 MB/s. [Feb '14 SSDrivePro]

Above average average bench

The OCZ Vertex 3 120GB averaged 31.4% lower than the peak scores attained by the group leaders. This isn't a great result which indicates that there are much faster alternatives on the comparison list.

Strengths

Avg. 4K-64Thread Mixed IO Speed 135MB/s
Avg. 4K Random Read Speed 28.9MB/s

Good consistency

The range of scores (95th - 5th percentile) for the OCZ Vertex 3 120GB is 28.9%. This is a relatively narrow range which indicates that the OCZ Vertex 3 120GB performs reasonably consistently under varying real world conditions.

Weaknesses

Avg. Sustained Write Speed 122MB/s
Avg. Sequential Write Speed 143MB/s
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Average Bench

(Based on 25,948 samples)
Min Avg Max
309 Read 381 434
121 Write 143 158
162 Mixed 192 208
93.8 SusWrite 122 138
46.2% 210 MB/s
Min Avg Max
20.7 4K Read 28.9 35
34 4K Write 76.7 113
22.9 4K Mixed 33.2 41.7
127% 46.3 MB/s
Min Avg Max
118 DQ Read 174 191
105 DQ Write 138 155
88.4 DQ Mixed 135 163
107% 149 MB/s
User Benchmarks BenchSequentialRandom 4kDeep queue 4k
The fastest SSD (mainstream) averages a speed of 100%
112GB free
Firmware: 2.11
SusWrite @10s intervals: 132 111 127 134 137 131 MB/s
Read 420
Write 147
Mixed 195
SusWrite 129
49% 223 MB/s
4K Read 36.1
4K Write 98.4
4K Mixed 41.3
160% 58.6 MB/s
DQ Read 191
DQ Write 148
DQ Mixed 157
121% 166 MB/s
19GB free (System drive)
Firmware: 2.22
SusWrite @10s intervals: 128 112 130 128 129 128 MB/s
Read 400
Write 134
Mixed 187
SusWrite 126
47% 212 MB/s
4K Read 27.5
4K Write 79.4
4K Mixed 31.8
124% 46.2 MB/s
DQ Read 181
DQ Write 124
DQ Mixed 150
112% 152 MB/s
51GB free (System drive)
Firmware: 2.22
SusWrite @10s intervals: 133 121 131 128 127 126 MB/s
Read 419
Write 147
Mixed 186
SusWrite 128
48% 220 MB/s
4K Read 26.1
4K Write 57
4K Mixed 30.6
109% 37.9 MB/s
DQ Read 186
DQ Write 153
DQ Mixed 164
124% 168 MB/s
43GB free (System drive)
Firmware: 2.22
SusWrite @10s intervals: 115 114 110 107 113 109 MB/s
Read 366
Write 140
Mixed 180
SusWrite 111
44% 199 MB/s
4K Read 22
4K Write 55
4K Mixed 26.3
96% 34.4 MB/s
DQ Read 179
DQ Write 133
DQ Mixed 146
112% 153 MB/s
11GB free (System drive)
Firmware: 2.06
SusWrite @10s intervals: 94 86 83 84 85 79 MB/s
Read 387
Write 139
Mixed 196
SusWrite 85.1
44% 202 MB/s
4K Read 22.7
4K Write 49.3
4K Mixed 28.7
97% 33.6 MB/s
DQ Read 189
DQ Write 122
DQ Mixed 144
111% 152 MB/s
25,948 MORE »

 Market Share (See Leaders)

The number of benchmark samples for this model as a percentage of all 76,510,940 SSDs tested

 Prices

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MSRP ≈ $116 @ launch in Mar '11
EbayUS $421 month
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Typical Vertex 3 120GB Builds (Compare 5,720 builds) See popular component choices, score breakdowns and rankings
Gaming
Gaming 37%
Jet ski
Desktop
Desktop 76%
Battleship
Workstation
Workstation 29%
Raft

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LX

EDIT WITH CUSTOM PC BUILDER Value: 61% - Good Total price: $335

Popular Vertex 3 120GB compatible motherboards:

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 Comments

Controller: SandForce SF2281. NAND: Intel 25nm Synchronous MLC

More bang for the buck...

Added 10 years ago.

Good (edit your comment) Add link

6 years ago.

Have used this drive for about 7 years now. Still performs wonderfully. I got it for about 80 bucks on sale at the time and it seems to outperform many other drives that are newer around the same price today.


Excellent

4 years ago.

Still going strong after 10 years.


Very poor

10 years ago.


Terrible

7 years ago.

ocz vertex 120gb = very useful on garbage


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opinion?
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