During our testing procedures, we used the configuration listed below. The only variable component between each benchmarking session was the hard disk drive being tested.

Hardware Configuration

• CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K
• Motherboard: Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3
• Memory: Two 2 GB Kingston HyperX Genesis (DDR3-2133, CL9, 1.6 V, 9-9-9-27)
• Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 470 AMP!
• Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Video Monitor: Viewsonic VX2260WM
• Power Supply: Corsair HX850W
• CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14
• Boot Drive: Kingston SSDNow V+100 128 GB

• Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit using NTFS file system
• Intel INF Driver Version: 9.2.0.1016
• NVIDIA Video Driver Version: 270.61

• CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64
• HD Tune 2.55

Error Margin

We adopted a 3% error margin in our tests, meaning performance differences of less than 3% can’t be considered meaningful. Therefore, when the performance difference between two products is less than 3%, we consider them to have similar performance.