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Dr DSP
Is there an equivalent of RAID in this technology or does this 'come for free' ...
Sanjib.Acharya
And after it fails, is there a mechanism to retrieve data?
SanDisk launches SSD memory for PCs
Peter Clarke
2/15/2012 1:32 PM EST
LONDON – SanDisk Corp. has announced the X100 solid-state drive (SSD) for design in to desktop, notebook and thin laptop computers. The unit is available in capacities up to 512-Gbyte and comes with a 6-Gbyte per second SATA interface and it comes in a 2.5-inches form-factor but at only 9.5-mm or 7-mm deep.
The SSD is based on use of multi-level cell NAND flash memory ICs and has a layered caching structure as well the means to support multiple sets of streaming data.
The SanDisk SSD offers up to 500-megabyte per second sequential read/write speeds, and enables a user to copy a 4-Gbyte high-definition movie in less than 10 seconds. In addition to the standard 2.5 inch form factor, the X100 SSD also comes in mSATA and customized thin form factors to address the emerging ultra-thin laptop market.
The SanDisk X100 SSD achieves long-term reliability of 2 million hours MTBF through use of continuous background error checking and advanced NAND recovery mechanisms. The power consumption at 3.3V is 150-mW in active mode and 75-mW on standby.
"With the introduction of the X100 SSD, SanDisk now offers OEMs a complete selection of SSD storage choices," said Kevin Conley, senior vice president and general manager of client storage solutions at SanDisk (Milpitas, Calif.), in a statement. "From the smallest BGA form factors of the iSSD to the economical lower power U100, all the way up to the high performance and high capacity points of our new X100, SanDisk offers a solution to meet the needs of notebook, desktop and ultra-thin laptop manufacturers."
The drive is available now for sampling to PC manufacturers and production-volume shipments.
Related links and articles:
www.sandisk.com
News articles:
SanDisk buys caching software firm
SanDisk freezes fab expansion
Ultrabooks expected to drive growth of cache SSDs
Report: Apple buys Anobit for $390 million
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LarryM99
2/15/2012 3:59 PM EST
It's hard to determine how this is going to be different from the current crop of SSDs. 'Multiple sets of streaming data' might be a clue. Are they using the same controllers that everyone else is? Are they coming in at a lower price point?
Larry M.
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green_ee
2/15/2012 4:42 PM EST
I'm still hoping to see a 1TB SSD this year for laptops; this is a nice step in that effort.
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goafrit
2/15/2012 6:41 PM EST
Very hard to see the innovation here. Yet, there are things they may be seeing differently.
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double-o-nothing
2/15/2012 10:57 PM EST
"The power consumption at 3.3V is 150-mW in active mode and 75-mW on standby." This could be due to "use of continuous background error checking and advanced NAND recovery mechanisms". Worth it?
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double-o-nothing
2/15/2012 11:32 PM EST
That is worth pointing out. In that case, the non-volatility benefit is not obvious anymore.
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eewiz
2/16/2012 6:29 AM EST
"The unit is available in capacities up to 512-Gbyte and comes with a 6-Gbyte per second SATA interface and it comes in a 2.5-inches form-factor but at only 9.5-mm or 7-mm deep. "
I am not sure why they stick to this 2.5inch formfactor for SSDs, when they can make it really much smaller. Because of the form factor, ultra thin laptops like macbook air, directly uses a smaller PCB with a few flash chips sticked on it. And this reduces the upgrade options for the notebook.
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Battar
2/16/2012 8:17 AM EST
Stick to a 2.5 inch format so as to be a drop in replacement for an HD. This way the PC maker doesn't have to re-design the internal mechanics, create new (expensive) molds etc.
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t.alex
2/16/2012 10:18 AM EST
How much is this?
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elctrnx_lyf
2/16/2012 10:18 AM EST
soon we will see the demise of HDD's in the PCs. As the demand increase the cost for SSD's will definitely come down.
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Dave.Dykstra
2/18/2012 9:42 PM EST
By maintaining the 2.5 inch form factor, they make it easier for PC manufacturers to offer an option of either HDD or SSD in what is otherwise the same PC. Then the customer can decide the economic tradeoff between cost and speed based on individual needs.
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/poconoarmchairreview
2/18/2012 10:09 PM EST
Are they really that reliable? Will I get impending failure messages the way I do with regular hard drives, or will the SSD's just suddenly die?
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Sanjib.Acharya
2/19/2012 9:36 AM EST
And after it fails, is there a mechanism to retrieve data?
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Dr DSP
2/23/2012 12:23 PM EST
Is there an equivalent of RAID in this technology or does this 'come for free' with the use of multiple memory devices and an smart controller?
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