Sometimes in an enterprise setting a server or other computer only needs a small amount of storage and that storage needs to be fast and compact to fit into a small enclosure. Active Media Products has just announced that it has new Disk-on-Modules specifically for the enterprise market.
The modules are very small and plug into the SATA port on any mainboard. AMP says that it is the first company to offer the 64GB modules for sale and that they are shipping to OEMs for about $259 right now. The modules use 7-pin SATA header that will work with almost any mainboard and they come in Type-1 and Type-2 styles.
The only difference in the two styles is that the Type-1 has a left side connector and the Type-2 has a right side connector. The sequential read speed is up to 100MB/s and the sequential write is up to 42MB/s. The DOMs measure 2.2″ x 1.3″ and use MLC flash, ECC, wear leveling, and bad block management.
Active Media Products has announced a new SSD that is a replacement for notebooks and netbooks that use 1.8-inch storage drives inside. The new drive is called the SaberTooth ZF Turbo ZIF SSD. The storage drive connects to machines using parallel ATA (PATA/IDE) ZIF interface.
The drive is very thin at 5mm thick and comes in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities. AMP says that the new SSD is a good upgrade for MacBook Air, HP Inspiron Mini 12, and other notebooks including some from Sony. The new SSD uses MLC flash and has special power saving circuits to increase battery life for the notebooks it is used in.
Other features of the SSD include ECC error correction, bad bit management, and the drive ships with the screwdriver needed for installation and an installation guide. The drive will work in most computers that use 1.8-inch 40-pin ZIF cables. The 32GB SSD is $129.95, the 64GB version is $189.95, and the 128GB version is $349.95.
Victorinox‘s Slim and Slim Duo flash-drive hiding Swiss Army Knives aren’t the only new folding storage from the company; there’s also an Apple-friendly compact drive with integrated biometrics and an SSD with an integrated e-paper display. The Victorinox Secure SSD not only manages to be the world’s smallest 256GB SSD, but packs in a 96 x 48 monochrome display for status updates.
There’s also data encryption, the option to personalize what text is shown on the display – so you could advertise your contact details should the drive be lost – and dynamic power management. Victorionix even squeeze in a 32-bit processor.
Meanwhile, the Victorinox Apple Secure has 128GB of storage and an integrated fingerprint scanner, together with a new app that works with OS X. No word on pricing or availability for either model at this stage.
Press Release:
Victorinox add the Slim, Slim Duo and Secure SSD USB Devices to their tech offering
Victorinox, the iconic brand behind the renowned Swiss Army Knives and the Secure Pro USB device has today announced the launch of new electronic additions to its technology range. Showcased at CES, the brand unveiled three new products – the Victorinox Slim, Victorinox Slim Duo and the Victorinox Secure SSD.
The Slim range includes advanced USB flash drive, which are available in flight friendly versions and feature unique designs, colours and slim dimensions along with data storage of up to 128GB. The Secure SSD is the world’s smallest 256GB solidstate drive, delivering three times faster read speed and more than double write speed when compared with standard high speed USB Flash devices.
Victorinox Slim and Victorinox Slim Duo
Combines portable data storage USB device with Victorinox standard pocket knife functions including blades, nail file and scissors and is also available in a flight friendly version.
Products are waterproof, shock resistant and available in a range of colours including red, blue, orange, pink, green and silver. The memory capacity is up to 64GB for the Victorinox Slim and 128GB for the Victorinox Slim Duo.
Victorinox Secure SSD
The Secure SSD is the world’s smallest 265GB solid-state drive and includes a Swiss Army Knife and offers secure data encryptions, in addition to delivering superior read and write speed when compared with other high memory USB drives.
Additional features include, Bistable LCD/e-Paper, Graphic display, 96 x 48 Pixel Monochrome; option to personalize text on the display, dynamic power management, 32 bit high speed processor.
Victorinox Apple Secure
The unique Secure Pro device now has technology compatible with Apple devices; the Apple Secure features a removable USB flash drive with secure data encryption, fingerprint authentication and up to 128GB storage. The application delivers all functionality in Apple-inspired graphical user interface (GUI), making all VSA product management software products Apple compatible.
Carl Elsener, Victorinox Chairman, comments: “Victorinox is a brand which has been evolving over the past couple of years to meet the needs of today’s modern, multitasking consumer. Our lines of secure flash drives are essential products for anyone seeking to protect their professional and personal documents. We design each USB Memory product in keeping with the Victorinox heritage of quality, functionality, innovation and iconic design and are thrilled to launch three unique new products to our consumers.”
If you are a computer enthusiast, you are probably familiar with OCZ. OCZ has been making RAM for computers for a very long time and RAM is what put the company on the map for enthusiasts looking for some speedy memory that was up to the task of overclocking for their rigs.
OCZ announced not long ago that it would be leaving the memory market that helped get the firm where it is today. Exiting markets is nothing new to OCZ, the company has also been in the laptop business, which it left, and has stopped making peripherals like mice and keyboards too.
The reason that OCZ is leaving the memory market is to focus its efforts on SSDs. OCZ has quietly built up a large and impressive array of SSD offering and has some crazy fast wares. The market for enthusiast RAM is crowded and the move will let OCZ focus on the SSD market, which is still popular and growing robustly. OCZ has noted that it will continue to support all owners of its RAM products moving forward so if you just bought some OCZ parts don’t worry.
Other World Computing has officially announced their brand new Mercury Aura Pro SSDs at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, aiming the new drives at earlier models of Apple’s MacBook Air notebook line-up. The drives are meant for the first generation MacBook Air models.
The upgrade to the SSD may not be a bad idea for those who are wanting to hang onto their 2008-2009 MacBook Air models. The company says that the new drives will be able to offer up 275MB/sec. That’s about three times faster than what the factory installed SSD.
The company is also proud to say that the Mercury Aura Pro SSD is the first SandForce SSD for that generation of MacBook Air. They come in sizes starting at 60GB, 120GB, 240GB, and finally 480GB. You can purchase them right now, costing $199.99, $299.99, $579.99, and for an unannounced price in order of mention. Check out the full press release below for more information.
Press Release
OWC ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY’S FIRST SANDFORCE PROCESSOR SOLID STATE DRIVE (SSD) FOR 2008-2009 MACBOOK AIR AT CES
Mercury Aura Pro MBA Delivers up to 275MB/s data rates for up to 41X Faster Performance than Factory Hard Drive, over 3X Faster Performance than Factory SSD, and up to 20% Faster Speed than 2010 MacBook Air Factory SSD
January 5, 2011, Las Vegas, NV — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac® and PC technology company, announced today its new Mercury Aura™ Pro MBA Solid State Drive (SSD) line, the first high performance SandForce® processor based SSD available for all 2008-2009 Apple MacBook Air models. Announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, this new product introduction establishes OWC as the most comprehensive U.S. manufacturer of industry leading SandForce processor based SSDs, with OWC Mercury Pro brand SSD models available for nearly every Mac and PC produced over the past decade. OWC will be demonstrating the new Mercury Aura Pro MBA and other first-to-market OWC Mercury Pro SSDs at CES Booth #3935, LVCC, North Hall.
Available In Four Models: 60GB, 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB with 4X Higher Capacity than Factory SSD
With data rates of up to 275MB/s, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA offers owners of 2008-2009 MacBook Air models up to 41X faster performance than the original factory hard drive, over 3X faster performance than the factory installed SSD, and 20% faster than even the latest 2010 MacBook Air models. Plus, with four models to choose from: 60GB, 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA provides up to 4X the storage capacity compared to the factory optional 128GB SSD and nearly 2X more storage capacity than the largest SSD offered in 2010 MacBook Air models.
Ordinary SSDs offer fast read/write performance during initial use, but then experience significant write speed degradation over repeated usage. Independent simulation tests by leading drive performance experts (see: http://macperformanceguide.com/SSD-RealWorld.html) confirm that OWC Mercury Pro brand SSDs ultra-efficient “Block Management & Wear Leveling” technologies eliminate virtually any reduction in data transfer speeds over heavy long term usage, without the dependency on less effective OS TRIM management.
Higher RAID-Like Data Protection – Up To 100X
The OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA also utilizes SandForce DuraClass™ technology, which provides up to 100X higher data protection than ordinary SSDs and leading enterprise class hard disk drives. By combining the highest level of Error Correction Code (ECC) and SandForce RAISE™ (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) technology along with 7% over provisioning, the Mercury Aura Pro MBA provides RAID-like data protection and reliability without the loss of transfer speed due to parity.
Shootout Proves it: OWC Offers “Better than New” Performance
Based on OWC’s popular Mercury Extreme SSD “shootout” video series, OWC has created new videos demonstrating how much faster an OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA equipped 2008-2009 MacBook Air 1.83GHz model is versus much faster processor based machines, including a 2010 MacBook Pro i7. To view the side-by-side comparison videos, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/Aura_SSD.
“One of OWC’s core missions is to help consumers maximize their technology investment,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, OWC. “By offering faster performance and higher capacity than provided by 2010 models, the Mercury Aura Pro MBA SSD enables 2008-2009 MacBook Air owners to experience better than new performance at a significantly lower cost than a new machine.”
Four Models Starting At $199.99
The new OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA is available immediately in four models compatible with all 13.3″ 2008-2009 MacBook Air models:
· 60GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $199.99
· 120GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $299.99
· 240GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $579.99
· 480GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $TBA
For more information on the OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA line, including reseller inquires, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Aura_Pro_MBA. For more information on the complete OWC Mercury Pro SSD line, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/
OWC Mercury Pro at CES: Unveiling More Industry-First SSD Model Lines for Most Comprehensive SSD Line For Macs And PCs
In addition to the Mercury Aura Pro MBA line of first SSDs available on the market for 2008-2009 MacBook Air computers, OWC is also unveiling other industry-first Mercury Pro SSD model lines at the CES show:
• OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express – the first SSD available for all 2010 Apple MacBook Air models.
• OWC Mercury Aura Pro 1.8″ – the first and fastest SandForce processor based SSD available for netbooks, subnotebook, and other computers that utilize an internal 1.8″ sized SATA drive.
• OWC Mercury Extreme™ Pro Legacy Edition – the first and fastest SandForce® processor based IDE/ATA SSD available for pre-Intel® PowerPC® based Macs, PCs, and other desktop/tower computers.
• OWC Mercury Legacy™ Pro – the first and fastest SandForce processor based IDE/ATA SSD available for pre-Intel PowerPC based Mac notebooks, PCs, and other notebook/laptop computers.
Micron has outed its latest RealSSD range of solid-state drive memory, built using 25nm NAND flash and squeezing from 64GB to 512GB into 1.8- and 2.5-inch form-factors. Connectivity is via the SATA 6Gb/s interface, and Micron is claiming impressive 415 MB/s read rates and up to 260 MB/s write rates; that’s 17-20-percent faster than the fastest Micron C300 drive.
The new RealSSD memory will launch as the Crucial m4 SSD C400 in Q1 2011, but Micron is also pushing the C400 technology to other manufacturers so there should be some competition around. Mass production is expected to kick off in February.
First SSD Portfolio to Use Industry’s Most Advanced 25-Nanometer NAND Technology
BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:MU) today unveiled a new portfolio of the industry’s most advanced RealSSDTM solid-state drives (SSDs) for the fast growing flash-based notebook market. A new breed of notebooks are entering the market that have lightweight construction, snappier system responsiveness and a longer lasting battery—all made possible because of the innovations in flash-based storage products.
“SSDs are bringing excitement back into personal computing,” said Dean Klein, vice president of memory system development at Micron. “Micron is accelerating this enthusiasm with our new RealSSD portfolio, providing even greater performance and higher capacities than our previous generation SSDs.”
The new portfolio is the first SSD product line to incorporate Micron’s 25-nanometer (nm) NAND flash technology, creating a broad portfolio of capacities ranging from 64-gigabyte (GB) to 512GB. The drives will be available in 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch form factors. As with its predecessor, the product line also supports the SATA 6Gb/s interface, which opens up the data path between the host processor and the SSD delivering improved overall system responsiveness including faster boot times and speedier application loads. The new drives reach read speeds up to 415 megabytes (MB)/second, which is 17 percent faster than Micron’s previous generation drives. With write performance varying by capacity, the new 512GB drive achieves up to 260 MB/second write speeds, which is more than 20 percent faster than the fastest C300 drive. The new SSDs also provide benefits that desktops, workstations and industrial applications can take advantage of including low power consumption, lightweight construction and resistance to shock and vibration.
“At IDC we expect total portable PC SSD shipments to increase significantly every year for the next three years,” said Jeff Janukowicz, research manager for Solid State Storage Technologies at IDC. “The use of leading-edge NAND technology and product innovations, such as in Micron’s RealSSD drives continue to bring SSDs into the mainstream by enabling higher performance and lower power consumption in a more cost effective solution.”
Micron is currently working with notebook manufacturers to qualify its new RealSSD drives under the C400 product name. With samples of the RealSSD C400 drives available now, Micron expects mass production to begin in February.
Bringing the drives to business customers and consumers, Crucial, a division of Micron, will begin selling the portfolio under the name, Crucial® m4 SSD. The Crucial m4 SSD product line is expected to be available online at crucial.com and through select global channel partners in the first quarter of 2011.
Micron Offering NAND Flash Design to System Solutions
As a NAND developer and manufacturer, Micron is in a unique position to apply proprietary management algorithms to its RealSSD portfolio that yield tremendous performance gains and maintain quality control. Micron continues to push NAND process geometries—the company is currently at 25nm with visibility into several more generations—which brings great benefits to solid-state storage applications including greater capacity and more cost-effective designs.
Lenovo‘s new Y Series notebooks have made their CES 2011, and the company reckons that they’re the fastest booting PCs around. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d, Y470 and Y570 get second-gen Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processors along with NVIDIA GT 550M 1GB switchable graphics, but it’s the optional Lenovo RapidDrive SSD that pairs HDD and SDD storage to achieve sub-10 second boot times.
There’s also OneKey Theatre II, for automatic DSP, and JBL speakers, together with NVIDIA 3D Vision support with the bundled 3D glasses. The Y470 has a 14-inch 1366 x 768 display while the U570 gets a 15.6-inch panel (at the same resolution); storage is up to 1TB of HDD with an optional 32GB or 64GB SSD, along with a Blu-ray reader/DVD burner combo.
WiFi b/g/n, gigabit ethernet and optional Bluetooth round out the main connectivity, along with HDMI and optional USB 3.0; full specs in the gallery below. The Lenovo IdeaPad Y Series will go on sale in May 2011, priced from $899.99.
Press Release:
Lenovo’s Newest and Most Stylish Laptops Offer Something for Everyone in the New Year
New IdeaPad Portfolio Features Eye Popping Colors, Sleek Designs, and Impressive Performance at Consumer-Friendly Prices
IdeaPad Y470 and Y570 with Enhanced Experience 2.0 Offer Sub-10 Second Boot Times1
CES 2011, Las Vegas – January 3, 2011: Lenovo (HKSE: 0992) (ADR: LNVGY) today unveiled an exciting new lineup of IdeaPad laptops at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show, including the world’s fastest booting Windows 7 PCs1 – the IdeaPad Y470 and Y570. The new IdeaPad laptops — including models in the Y Series, Z Series, S Series, V Series and Lenovo G and B Series — appeal to a broad range of consumers with stylish, modern design characteristics, such as brushed metal covers and raised textures, and the latest technology for enhanced performance and entertainment capabilities.
?We’re very excited about our latest lineup of IdeaPad laptops – they are the industry’s newest benchmark for consumer PC design,? said Dion Weisler, vice president, business operations, Lenovo. ?We’ve enriched our portfolio with wow features such as sub-10 second boot times and sleek new industrial designs that deliver higher performance and a more compelling experience for consumers.?
IdeaPad Y570d, Y570, Y470— High Performance Mobile Entertainment –
Lenovo’s new IdeaPad Y560d, Y470 and Y570 laptops sport high-performance processors and are packed with innovative tools and features that make mobile entertainment more realistic, fun and intuitive.
The entire new Y Series all feature the new Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7 standard, which enables users to start their PC on average 20 seconds faster than a typical Windows 7 computer thanks to Lenovo RapidBoot technology1. With optional Lenovo RapidDrive SSD technology, the new Y470 and Y570 laptops can boot in less than 10 seconds2, using an SSD and HDD storage to combine fast boot and application performance with affordable storage capacity.
Powered by the latest 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM processors (up to i7) with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and up to NVIDIA® GT 550M 1GB switchable graphics, these new notebooks are optimized for an on-the-go multimedia experience. They feature OneKey® Theatre II, which automatically maximizes advanced audio-visual settings at a touch of a button and SRS Premium Sound with JBL designed speakers, which provide users with a richer audio experience.
Consumers looking for the ultimate in entertainment, look no further than the Y570d, which boasts Nividia’s 3D vision capabilities. With the flip of a switch, users can bring entertainment to life by putting on the included 3D glasses to enjoy movies, photos and games.
IdeaPad Z570, Z470, Z370— Fashionable Multimedia Laptops
Lenovo’s Z Series laptops are designed for consumers who desire a PC with features that can keep up with their exciting lifestyle. On the outside, the IdeaPad Z470 and Z370 sport a cool futuristic ID design with a transparent cover in a selection of pop colors including fuchsia, sky blue and dark brown. For a more minimalist look, consumers can choose the IdeaPad Z570, which offers a high-end luxury appearance with its Accutype chiclet keyboard encased in a modern hairline and metallic effect panel.
On the inside, the Z Series are powered by the new 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM i7 processor with Intel l® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and feature Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7, so users never have to miss a beat while enjoying multimedia. Movies and internet TV can be enjoyed on the new Z Series with its high-definition (HD), 16:9 format widescreen (available in 13.3, 14 and 15.6-inch models), optional Blu-ray DiscTM drive, and Dolby® Advanced Audio for a stunning audio experience.
Featuring OneKeyTM Theater II – one-touch audio-visual optimization for clearer, brighter images and richer audio and SRS® Premium SoundTM audio enhancement, the new Z Series is the fashionable choice for those seeking entertainment.
IdeaPad S100, S205— Stylish Internet Companion Packed with Surprises
Lenovo presents two new additions to their ultraportable laptop offerings, the IdeaPad S100 and IdeaPad S205. The IdeaPad S205 is an 11.6-inch mini laptop featuring an ultra-slim design for easy portability and a stylish AccuType chiclet keyboard – designed to make typing more comfortable on smaller notebooks. With optional integrated 3G connectivity and long battery life, the S205 is the perfect companion for browsing the web in the home or on the go. It also comes with DirectShare, which lets users sync their files with another computer without connecting to the Internet.
The successor to Lenovo’s popular S10-3 netbook is the new IdeaPad S100, which features a 10.1 inch slim backlit LED display and premium AccuType keyboard. Weighing less than 2.2 pounds, the S100 will be available in a wide range of colorful options such as red, fuchsia, sky blue and black making it a great entry level portable computing option for those on-the-go.
IdeaPad V570, V470 and V370— Work Smarter and Faster
Who said work can’t be fun? Look sharp at the office and relax at home with the IdeaPad V Series notebooks — V370, V470 and V570 – which feature a crisp professional, look with an aluminum casing and cover, and a thin 21mm design. Designed for both consumers or small office and home office (SOHO), the V Series boasts all new 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM processors, helping users blaze through work tasks with speed and accuracy. To help get the day going quickly, the V Series also offers Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows® 7 with Lenovo RapidBoot technology, which enables users to start their PC on average 20 seconds faster than a typical Windows 7 computer1.
To help guard what matters most on a laptop, the V Series feature robust integrated security tools to help preserve and protect users’ data. Security features include OneKeyTM Rescue System, for quick data backup and recovery and Lenovo Security Suite, a robust suite of security tools that will encrypt and protect users’ data from prying eyes. The V Series also comes with a Fingerprint Reader for bio- authentication using a finger as a password and a USB Port Locker to prevent unauthorized access to USB ports.
Lenovo G770, G570, G470, G575, G475 — Mainstream Affordable Notebooks
For consumers looking for the best value and essential mobile computing with the latest processor technology, Lenovo has expanded its G Series to include new 17-, 15- and 14-inch options. Sturdy, yet stylish, the G770, G570, G470, G575 and G475 laptops offer well-rounded features such as Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7 with RapidBoot technology, which delivers faster start-up and shutdown and optimized multimedia; Energy Management, which protects the long-term life of the battery; and OneKey Rescue System, which makes it easy for users to backup and recover data.
Lenovo B570 and B470— Essential PCs for Work and Play
Lenovo also announced several new models within its essential brand of affordable home computers, including the B570 and B470 for SOHO. Lenovo’s essential family of laptop and desktop PCs are intended for consumers who want the latest technology, including multimedia and security features, for use at the office or while relaxing at home. The Lenovo B Series are affordable notebooks for business and fun and include features and technologies that will increase user’s personal productivity so they can spend more time doing the activities they love. The B570 and B470 feature up to a 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Technology 2.0, up to Genuine Windows 7 Professional, and Lenovo Enhanced Experience for Windows 7 with Lenovo RapidBoot technology, which delivers faster start-up and shutdown and optimized multimedia.
Pricing and Availability
The new IdeaPad S Series laptops will be available beginning in March 2011 starting at $329.99. The new IdeaPad Y Series laptops will be available beginning in May 2011 starting at $899.99. The new Lenovo B Series laptops will be available beginning in April 2011 starting at $499.99.
The new Lenovo V Series laptops will be available beginning in April 2011 starting at $599.99.
As our favorite things in tech get smaller, it’s hard to imagine that they still pack the same features, if not more, than the bigger versions in the past. But, it keeps happening over and over again, and now we see the same thing coming from Intel yet again. They’ve just announced their brand new 310 Series of Solid State Drives (SSDs), and they’re happy to show off the ridiculously small size. Best of all, though, is that the company managed to pack in all of the same features and power of the x25-class of SSDs that these are meant to replace.
As Intel puts it, the new 310 Series of SSDs are able to deliver Intel x25-based performance, all in a package that comes in at one eighth the size of its predecessor. The ultra-compact design makes it possible for the SSD to have accelerated performance with higher-capacity hard drives in dual-drive notebooks. And Intel is quick to point out that the new SSDs are perfect for tablets, as well as military-grade or low-power, rugged, embedded apps. Not surprisingly, Intel is already showcasing the SSDs to potential buyers, pricing the 40GB model at $99, and $179 for the 80GB version. Check out the full press release below for more information. And check out the video below to see what Lenovo thinks of the new 310 Series.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
New Intel SSD 310 Series delivers Intel X25-class performance, but in 1/8th the size.
Ultra-compact SSD enables the accelerated performance of an SSD with higher-capacity HDDs for dual-drive notebooks.
Intel SSD 310 is ideal for tablets, rugged, low-power military or industrial embedded apps, and was selected by DRS Technologies for its upcoming ARMOR™ tablet PC.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 29, 2010 – Intel Corporation announced today the Intel® Solid-State Drive (Intel® SSD) 310 Series, an ultra-small solid-state drive (SSD) that delivers Intel® X25-class award-winning SSD performance, but in one-eighth the size. Measuring 51mm-by-30mm and only 5mm thick, the Intel SSD 310 is a fast, ultra-compact SSD that brings flexibility, ruggedness and scalability to innovative form factors and devices. It can enable highly responsive dual-drive notebooks, innovative single-drive tablets and low-power, rugged embedded industrial or military applications. When paired with a high-capacity hard disk drive (HDD) in a dual-drive system, the Intel SSD 310 can improve overall PC system performance by up to 60 percent.1
A solid-state drive uses no moving parts, and thus is more durable and reliable than a mechanical HDD, while using less power and providing better system responsiveness. The Intel SSD 310 Series contains 34 nanometer (nm) Intel NAND flash memory and is available in an m-SATA form factor in 40 gigabyte (GB) and 80GB capacities.
The Intel SSD 310 supports SATA signals over a PCI Express (PCIe) mini-connector for on-board, compact storage in single-drive netbooks, tablets or handheld devices. Weighing just 10 grams, the compact size also enables dual drive all-in-ones, notebooks or small-form-factor (SFF) desktops to help accelerate boot time and access to frequently used applications or files.
“The Intel SSD 310 series will allow us to provide the advantages of a full-performance Intel SSD paired with the storage of a hard disk drive in a small, dual-drive system,” said Tom Butler, director of ThinkPad product marketing, Lenovo. “We’ve offered Intel SSD solutions for our highly innovative Lenovo ThinkPad laptops for some time, and now we’re looking forward to incorporating this new solution across our ThinkPad line.”
With its rugged design, the Intel SSD 310 Series has been chosen by DRS Technologies for a new ARMOR communications tablet PC to be unveiled at Storage Visions in Las Vegas. The ARMOR mobile and field unit tablet PC is certified by DRS to work in extreme temperatures and hold up to shock, vibration and drops, delivering up to nine hours of operating time.
“In order to meet the rigorous demands of our mobile users, we design for mission-critical tasks that require connectivity and handheld mobility in all-weather operations,” said Mike Sarrica, vice president and general manager for DRS Tactical Systems Inc. “The Intel SSD 310 Series fits the bill by offering a reliable and high performing memory solution.”
“The Intel SSD 310 Series is the first in a wave of SSD products we will introduce throughout the next year,” said Tom Rampone, Intel vice president and general manager of Intel’s NAND Solutions Group. “With this introduction, Intel is offering full SSD performance in a compact, ultra-small form factor.”
Already shipping to customers, the Intel SSD 310 is priced at $99 for the 40GB capacity and $179 for the 80GB version, both in 1,000-unit quantities. More information on Intel SSDs can be found at www.intel.com/go/ssd or by accessing the multimedia press kit at www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/ssd. Follow Intel SSDs on Twitter: @intelssd, Facebook: Intel Solid State Drive (Official) or communities.intel.com.
Fast, silent and power-efficient; it seems like the only thing not to like about SSDs is the price. OCZ has sent over its Vertex 2 SSD, a 120GB model that straddles the performance/price boundary at around $220. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
Hardware
The OCZ Vertex 2 on our test bench is a 2.5-inch 120GB model weighing in at 77g and 9.5mm thick. In the retail box, OCZ bundles a 3.5-inch adapter bracket, for using the drive in a desktop rather than a notebook. Maximum speeds on the box are up to 285 MB/s read rate, 275 MB/s write rate and up to 250 MB/s sustained writes.
The Vertex 2 uses the well-esteemed SandForce SF-1200 controller, which has quickly moved to a strong position particularly among OS X users for whom the Mac OS lacks Windows’ TRIM support. TRIM – which the Vertex 2 does support – is used by some platforms to notify not only the OS file system that a file has been deleted but the SSD itself; that means slightly slower deletes but less degradation of performance over time. Apple is yet to add TRIM support to OS X, but the SandForce controller works around that absence with its own “garbage collection” routines at the drive level.
One unfortunate side effect of the SandForce firmware initially used on the Vertex 2 is the amount of NAND memory set aside for over-provisioning leaving a grand total of 119.69GB left of usable storage space. This is used to boost overall write performance and reliability, the latter by replacing bad memory blocks from the reserved memory. On the original Vertex 2, a huge 28-percent of the memory was set aside; newer firmware has slimmed this down to just 13-percent.
Performance
We installed the Vertex 2 into a MacBook Pro running OS 10.6.5 and tested it using Xbench 1.3. In sequential write testing, the SSD managed 191.00 MB/sec with 4K blocks and 153.53 MB/sec with 256K blocks. In random write testing, it achieved 148.42 MB/sec with 4K blocks and 165.07 MB/sec with 256K blocks.
As for read rates, in sequential read tests the SSD scored 29.09 MB/sec with 4K blocks and 179.13 MB/sec with 256K blocks. Finally, in random read tests it managed 22.53 MB/sec with 4K blocks and 172.99 MB/sec with 256K blocks.
Compared to the Samsung 470 Series SSD we tested last month, the OCZ is generally stronger at random reads and writes, but slower at sequential read and writes.
Wrap-Up
As ever, when you’re coming at an SSD from a HDD perspective, it’s tough to argue with the speed increase and the sudden disappearance of noise and vibration from a spinning drive. However, not all SSDs are created equal, as the OCZ’s benchmarks prove.
Samsung’s 470 Series bests it on sequential performance, but the OCZ fights back with random performance; it’s also cheaper, coming in at around $220 street price versus the 128GB Samsung’s roughly $260. Given daily use is more likely to throw up random I/O with various cache files and other temporary documents, and the benefit of the SandForce controller, we’d opt for the OCZ in preference.
So we’ve got a concept here, and it’s branded LaCie, but that’s almost certainly just added in post-production by the designer André Silva. This is what he calls LaCie Float, a harddrive whose bulk not only appears to float above the ground because of its slightly smaller glass base, but has a strange feature on top of that, too. The entire top panel of this HDD (there’s an SSD version too) is a trackpad. You know what that means?
It means that this machine (though not all the details are worked out, obviously), take some of what otherwise seem to be crucial components out of the picture: all you need now is a monitor or screen of some sort and a way to attach it to the hard drive. From there, the harddrive could (with some modifications turning it into what’d be closer to what’s considered a computer) become a whole new all-in-one sort of machine.
Remember that this is a conceptual design and isn’t meant to be a complete idea yet. This is where great things are born, especially when the idea precedes the technology or the means of creating the project. Love it.
