OCZ SandForce firmware update to add 20% storage capacity

OCZ worked together with SandForce to boost the storage capacity of SandForce 1200 controller based solid state disks. While disks with this controller perform pretty well, this came at the cost of overprovisioning of the drive. However, a new firmware update should resolve this, PC Perspective reports they've received a new OCZ Agility 2 SSD prototype that features 20 percent more storage capacity. The site ran some benchmarks to compare this 120GB unit against its 100GB counterpart and contrary to their expectations they found out the performance is identical.

Last week we checked out some new products from OCZ, namely the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SSD's. Both models use the SandForce 1200 controller. While this relatively new controller performs very well, it has always come at the cost of greater overprovisioning of the drive. This means that while other drives get 120GB out of 128GB of installed flash, SandForce controlled units only make 100GB of that same 128GB available for user data. Less usable capacity translates directly into a higher cost/GB, as the bulk of the cost of an SSD is the flash memory chips themselves. Recognizing that cost might weigh more heavily on the typical end user's mind, OCZ worked with SandForce to try and bring the overprovisioning down to a more 'consumer' level.