Corsair adds a new 256GB model to their Extreme Series Solid State Drive family of products today. The Extreme Series SSDs come with the Indilinx Barefoot controller as well as Samsung MLC NAND flash memory resulting in read speeds of up to 240MB/s and write speeds up to 170 MB/s. The drive also comes with 64MB of cache memory.

All Extreme Series SSDs come with user-upgradeable firmware to allow for new features to be added over time (e.g. the upcoming TRIM command for Windows 7). The product line is also available in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage capacities.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Corsair 256GB Extreme Series SSD, Solid State Drive

Lexar Media expands their solid state drive lineup with the introduction of the Crucial M225 SSDs. Available in three storage capacities (64GB, 128GB, 256GB), the M225 features:

• Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND flash memory
• 64MB DRAM internal cache
• SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface
• 2.5 inch form factor
• 200 – 250 MB/s read speed, 150 – 200 MB/s write speed

The 64GB M225 is available now for $169.99, the 128GB SSD for $329.99, and the 256GB model for $599.99.

[Check it out via Crave]

Technorati Tags: Crucial M225 2.5 inch SATA Solid State Drive

Looking for a notebook with a super massive solid state drive? You’re in luck – Toshiba has announced the world’s first notebook/laptop with a whopping 512GB Solid State Drive on the inside. The system, known as the Portégé R600-ST4203 (sounds like a space shuttle mission doesn’t it?), also happens to be a nice ultra-portable system too – weighing a mere 2.4 pounds and measuring only 0.77 inches thin. But back to the SSD component for a second. We all know why Solid State Drives rock – they’re more power efficient, have no moving parts, and most importantly, offer faster performance than a standard hard drive. However, all this performance comes at a price.. but more on that in a second.

Let’s list the major specs to the Portégé R600-ST4203:

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU9400
• Windows Vista 32/64 bit OS
• 3GB RAM
• 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity
• 12.1 inch widescreen 1280 x 800 resolution display with LED sidelight
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• DVD burner
• Built-in webcam and microphone
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 7.53 hour battery life
• ExpressCard slot
• 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port
• SD slot
• Fingerprint Reader

Now back to the price.. The Portégé R600-ST4203 will be available in early June for a whopping $3499.99. Yeah.. 512GB of fast storage space comes at a price folks.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Toshiba Portégé R600-ST4203, 512GB SSD, Solid State Drive

Corsair announced yesterday the launch of their new Corsair Storage Solutions P256 high-performance 256GB solid state drive (SSD). This new high-capacity solid state drive is all about performance as it features:

• “Specially selected” Samsung MLC flash memory
• A Samsung Controller IC
• 128MB of “super-fast” cache memory
• Native Command Queuing (NCQ) support
• Read speeds up to 220MB/sec
• Write speeds up to 200MB/sec

The P256 is available now through various channels. A quick peek at Newegg shows the P256 available for $669.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Corsair, Corsair Storage Solutions P256 SSD, Solid State Drive

A-DATA Technology announces their latest solid state drive – the A-DATA X25-M series SSD – which also happens to be co-branded with Intel. the X25-M features Intel’s MLC NAND flash memory and achieves read speeds up to 250MB/sec and write speeds up to 70MB/sec with 85 ms read latency. The 2.5 inch drive will be available in 80GB and 160GB storage capacities and feature Native Command Queuing for up to 32 concurrent operations. Other features include low write amplification and a “unique wear-leveling design for higher reliability.”. No word on pricing as of yet.

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: A-DATA Technology, X25-M Solid State Drive, Intel, Solid State Drives

Super Talent Technology announces their new UltraDrive ME and UltraDrive LE families of solid state drives are now shipping. The UltraDrive LE has ratings of:

• Max sequential read speed of 230MB/s
• Max sequential write speed of 170MB/s

The UltraDrive ME is rated at:

• Max sequential read speed of 200MB/s
• Max sequential write speed of 160MB/s

The LE family is available in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage capacities while the ME family is available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities. The 128GB UltraDrive is retailing for under $400 dollars.

[Check out Newegg for Super Talent UltraDrive ME SSDs]

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: Super Talent Technology, UltraDrive LE, UltraDrive ME, Solid State Drives

SanDisk showed off their upcoming third generation solid state drive (SSD) – the G3 SSD family – at CES 2009. These drives feature new algorithms such as ExtremeFFS, new technologies such as All Bit Line MLC NAND flash, and a new SanDisk controller. More importantly, the G3 SSD family will be available at extremely competitive prices with the 60GB model coming out at $149.

For those of you curious what the heck ExtremeFFS is. It’s a new flash management system developed by SanDisk that tries to maximize random write performance. Here’s a snippet from the FAQ:

“The algorithm operation is page-based, which means there is no fixed coupling between physical and logical location. When a sector of data is written, the SSD puts it where it is most convenient and efficient. ExtremeFFS incorporates a fully non-blocking architecture in which all of the NAND channels can behave independently, with some reading while others are writing and garbage collecting. Another key element of ExtremeFFS is usage-based content localization, which allows the advanced flash management system to “learn” user patterns and over time localize data to maximize the product’s performance and endurance. The result is an improvement in random write performance – by up to 100 times – as well as in overall endurance.”

SanDisk also introduces a new metric called “virtual Revolutions Per Minute (vRPM)” which tries to compare the performance of a solid state drive (which has no moving parts) against a traditional hard drive (which does rotate) using a traditional benchmark – RPM. SanDisk claims the G3 SSDs can achieve up to 40,000 vRPM.

The new SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available in the middle of this year in 2.5 inch and 1.8 inch form factors. As mentioned earlier, the 60GB model will be available for $149, the $120GB for $249, and the 240GB for $499.

Technorati Tags: SanDisk, Solid State Drive, G3 SSD, CES 2009

Super Talent Technology announced their new UltraDrive Solid State Drive product line a few days ago – a new line of SSDs designed for enterprise environments. The UltraDrive SSDs are twice as fast as the world’s fastest SATA hard drives and are offered in capacities up to 256GB. The UltraDrive lineup consists of the UltraDrive LE SSDs which utilize SLC NAND Flash and the UltraDrive ME SSDs which utilize MLC NAND flash.

Here are the specs:

UltraDrive LE:

• 2.5 inch SATA II SLC
• Up to 128GB
• 230 MB/sec Max read speed
• 170 MB/sec Max write speed

UltraDrive ME:

• 2.5 inch SATA II MLC
• Up to 256GB
• 200 MB/sec Max Read Speed
• 160MB MB/sec Max Write Speed

Technorati Tags: Super Talent Technology, UltraDrive Solid State Drive, UltraDrive LE, UltraDrive ME

Intel announced that they are now shipping the X-25E Extreme SATA Solid State Drive – their “highest performing solid state drive”. Designed for server, workstation, and storage system platforms, the X-25E will be available in 32GB and 64GB capacities, use Intel’s Single Level Cell (SLC) NAND flash memory, and feature:

• Sustained sequential read speeds up to 250 MB/s
• Sustained sequential write speeds up to 170 MB/s
• 75 ms read latency
• 2.5 inch form factor
• 2 million hour mean time before failure
• SATA 1.5 Gb/s and 3.0 Gb/s interfaces

The 32GB X-25E will be priced at $695 for quantities up to 1000. No word on pricing for the 64GB version but it’s expected to sample in the fourth quarter with production in the first quarter of 2009.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Intel X-25E Extreme SATA Solid State Drive, SSD

Kingston Technology is getting into the solid state drive (SSD) business by teaming up with Intel Corporation to market and sell Intel’s SSD products to other hardware manufacturers. According to Mobile Tech Today, the move allows Kingston to enter “in an emerging market” fairly quickly – something that is somewhat atypical of Kingston.  Kingston typically takes a “wait and see” approach to new products – however SSDs have been growing in popularity – especially in notebook and server markets.

You can read more here at Mobile Tech Today via Daily Tech.

Technorati Tags: Intel, Kingston Technology, Solid State Drive