Introduction

We can't tell you what GS stands for. The first SandForce based SSD from Corsair was called Force, easy enough. After arrived Force 3, a clear reference to the new SF-2281 ability to operate at SATA III. There was never a Force 2. Around the same time Corsair also released the Force GT, a faster version with SF-2281 and synchronous flash. GT is a designation plucked straight from the automobile scene, generally a faster model. Now we have GS, but we have no idea what GS stands for. Last night I went half-crazy trying to figure it out and the best I could come up with was Grand Slam. I think I need to keep thinking!

Anyway, the Corsair Force GS uses SanDisk Toggle Mode flash. The SanDisk variant comes from the same magical place as the Toshiba Toggle Mode flash we've seen on products like the Patriot Wildfire and Mushkin Chronos DX. Toggle Mode flash is the current premium top dog flash going around right now because it increases incompressible data performance. The Wildfire and Chronos DX use older 32nm Toggle Flash, but the new Corsair Force GS feature new 24nm Toggle.

To date the Force GT held the flagship title in Corsair's product line up and for good reason. The Force GT when we reviewed it was blazing fast, but the drive has changed since then. The 240GB Force GT now uses the SF-2282 controller and 32 IMFT NAND flash chips, a combination that increases the interleaving and produces higher performance. So, if the Force GT was blazing fast before, it is ultra-blazing fast now. We have a sample in the lab now, but not the firmware we want to test it with. When we get equal firmware on hand we'll get to answer the question you'll be asking after reading this review, which should I buy, the Force GT or the Force GS.

Let's take a look at the new Corsair Force GS as it is now and compare it to several of the heavy hitters on the market.