The application range of Industrial PC (IPC) is significantly different from general PC. Although the interface used is about the same as general PC, the spec is usually different compared with general PC in order to correspond to user environment, applications, and the parts. Some versions especially designed for PC gamers have become very popular in the market. For example, Mach Xtreme MXSSD2MSLD-V/H is a type of product designed for PC gamers.

To get to know “DOM””

This type of minimization of SATA interface is called DOM (Disk On Module) in terms of spec. The original design was set to install the flash memory on motherboard’s USB, PATA, and SATA ports so it can be used as bootable drive. But due to the limitation on the used space, the size of these products is usually as big as a grown man’s thumb. It allows the PC with easy functions, simple software content, long period of seismic resistance, and large temperature difference to have basic system storage.

In the era when controllers were not as popular, DOM has already appeared in the IPC industry but they kept it very low-profile. It’s mainly because previous applications were focused on customized industrial market. Since the space itself was limited due to the demand, these products mostly used controllers that corresponded to single NAND Flash Package. It could be difficult to find controllers correspond to four NAND Flashes. However, the performance of these products turned out to be poor caused by the innate restrictions. Follow the advanced controller technology and NAND Flash stacking technology, the performance of these industrial products will continuously stand out. The type used here, Mach Xtreme MXSSD2MSLD-V/H, is an example.

To get to know Mach Xtreme MXSSD2MSLD-V/H through spec

Before we start to talk about the performance of this type of SSD, let’s first take a look at the spec of this rare product.：

The product’s operating temperature and seismic resistance are defined based on personal products. For those with sharp eye-sight must have noticed the product’s MTBF can be classified as enterprise-level failure rate. According to typical calculation, companies think it may be caused by fewer parts used. But judging from the spec of 32GB, this type of DOM SSD should have a 2 channel controller in order to control the flash with two die in one package. As for how different would it be comparing with the performance of mSATA products? The answer will be revealed in the following performance test.

But in terms of applications, this type of SSD can be serious. For the system disks that can support DOS, Linux, Window CE, Windows XP, and Windows 7, you can just plug it in the Serial ATA port on motherboard and then connect to the power. According to different user request, you can have two options of straight pull or lying-in whichever won’t cause cards to be stuck on the motherboard.

Performance comparison and reference

Although comparing with 4 channel mSATA SSD, we can foresee the tough challenges for 2 channel SSD to compete with 4 channel SSD. However, it’s the editor’s apology for not being able to find any products that’s more similar to this type of DOM SSD to compare with it, the below comments basically take innate differences into consideration.

Through application test, we can see that SSD performance especially stands out in random read/write section. However, the performance on personal applications hasn’t been optimized. The difference between the performance of this type of SSD and typical SSD is becoming more significant.

In the typical linear transfer test, the performance of this type of SSD is significantly different from the SSD sold in the market. It’s believed to be caused by the innate difference between 2 channel SSD and 4 channel SSD.

We get the same conclusion on the comprehensive test containing a number of test software. That is the type of SSD didn’t seem to be adjusted additionally to NCQ sorting, which can be excusable if the innate number of channel was fewer. In fact, the performance improvement generated by strengthening sorting functions is also limited.

This is the IOPS test processed by HDTunePro. The number of write operations for this type of SSD still can’t exceed 400 times per second in random tests. If to be used on iRST, it will have limited improvement on the performance.