GSKill Phoenix Pro: Little Drive, Lotta Performance

Name: GSKill Phoenix Pro: Little Drive, Lotta Performance
Brand: GSKill

by Joel Hruska — Thursday, August 26, 2010, 11:00 AM EDT

Introduction & Specifications

SSDs account for just a fraction of the storage market in terms of units shipped, but high consumer interest and significant profit margins have brought manufacturers in droves. GSkill isn't exactly a newcomer to the field, but the sheer number of companies in the dogpile make it more difficult for any single manufacturer to win a definitive lead against the others, at least in terms of technology alone. Today we're reviewing GSkill's 60GB Phoenix Pro. This relatively diminutive drive is meant to offer enthusiasts an attractive balance between price and performance, but the Phoenix Pro is fighting to distinguish itself in a tight field.

The G.SKILL Phoenix PRO 60GB SATA II SSD

GSkill Phoenix Pro (60GB, SandForce 1200)

Specifications & Features

Max Read: up to 285MB/s
Max Write: up to 275MB/s
Random Write 4KB (Aligned): 50,000 IOPS
Seek Time: 0.2ms
Power Consumption: Idle 3W, Active 8W
Operating Temp: 0°C ~ 70°C
Storage Temp: -45°C ~ +85°C

Shock Resistant up to 1500G
Included 3.5" Desktop adapter bracket
Compatible with XP, Vista, 7, and Linux (32 and 64-bit flavors)
MTBF: 2 million hours
3-Year Warranty

When it comes to the drive's specifications and included bundle, the Phoenix Pro has all the right stats in all the right places. The SandForce SF-1200 controller is the current industry favorite, the published read / write specifications line up with its competitors, and the three year warranty is up to par with what's generally available elsewhere. Included along with the drive is a small user manual booklet, a drive tray, a few screws, and the drive itself. Quick, clean, and simple.