Patriot Torqx 128GB SSD Review

Conclusion

Believe it or not, when we first started writing this review, things didn't look too good for the Torqx. It's price was higher than the other Indilinx Barefoot-equipped units, its warranty wasn't quite what we were looking for and Patriot's website didn't have any firmware updates or links to the wiper program. Boy, how things change. It really was a close call but in the end Patriot turned things around and made good in every single area we listed.

All of these changes on Patriot's part necessitated a ton of changes on our part. Usually, I hate rewriting reviews but in when it came to the Torqx, a rewrite was more than worth it. Not only was the warranty increased to an industry-leading 10 years but Patriot also posted new firmware and the wiper program on their website. Talk about night and day.

When you look at the results this SSD posts you have to walk away impressed. It truly is a fast, user-friendly drive that will make darn near anyone’s system feel faster. Even better, and unlike some items which appear good on their own but quickly fizzle and fade into the background, the Patriot Torqx doesn't only hold its own but actually exceeds our expectations when compared to other Indilinx SSDs.

The only area where we find things could be improved upon is more of a pet peeve than anything more serious. The OCZ Vertex can easily be updated from 1.1 to 1.3 without the need for removing the drive, setting the jumper and running a Windows-based updater. Just as we found with the G.Skill Falcon, the Patriot Torqx requires the full extended process to update its firmware. However, in this day of easy and cheap and/or free drive imaging programs it is not a deal breaker and more of an increased hassle factor than anything. Just remember, if you do pull the trigger on the purchase of a new Torqx the very first thing is update the firmware!

This leaves the last big “deal maker / deal breaker” issues and that is warranty. To us the length of warranty is not that big a deal, as long as its longer than our 2 year upgrade cycle its longs enough. That being said it does provide peace of mind if nothing else. In this arena, the Patriot Torqx is the now undisputed king of warranties as it comes with a 10 year warranty. This to us says Patriot takes their customer’s satisfaction very seriously, and we hope others follow suit quickly.

It may seem like a small gesture of respect to their customers but when taken with all the other things Patriot has gotten right, even the 2.5" to 3.5" adapter does have a cumulative effect and we think this is going to be one HOT selling item. It may not be perfect in all aspects but the Torqx simply has the best combination of power, ease of use and warranty of all the drives we have tested. Needless to say, it is being awarded our DAM GOOD award. Bravo Patriot for stepping up to the plate and it hitting clear out of the ball park.

Pros:
- Excellent performance
- 2.5” to 3.5” bay converter included
- TEN year warranty

Cons:
- Price is a little high
- Little slow on the Wiper.exe release front
- Little slow on the firmware update front