SanDisk's Vaulter Disk: flash-based drive module for laptops

Details are light, but apparently SanDisk will be announcing a device called the Vaulter Disk next year, which will basically be something like an SSD intermediary -- a large bank of fast flash memory for speeding up platter-based drive access. Sounds a lot like the lovechild of RAMdisk and a hybrid hard drive, but we won't know more until a later date.

Update: We've got more details! It'll come in 8GB and 16GB sizes, and is intended to host the laptop's operating system and select user data, leaving apps, media, and everything else to the platter drives. So calling it an SSD intermediary is pretty accurate. It'll be available to OEMs early next year.

[Dean @ Nov 13th 2007 7:21PM]

My laptop has an extra internal express port, this looks like an actually useful device to throw in there.

[TKWarrior @ Nov 13th 2007 7:34PM]

Another idea that should have come out a few years ago to be worthwhile. This would be great for my current IBM. But you can get a solid-state drive as an upgrade on new machines now for a few hundred. This would have to be a)allot cheaper to be a viable option b)compatible with most laptops to sell well.

Theres already solid-state express cards, but the prices are ridiculous. I don't see this changing the market much but good luck to them.

[Brian @ Nov 14th 2007 3:31PM]

I don't need all of my data on SSD, just the OS would be nice. Then I still have room in my laptop for a drive to store other things, instead of taking up all the space with the SSD.

AFAIK, you can't normally boot off an express card SSD.

[BigPana @ Nov 13th 2007 7:38PM]

Hey Ryan, how come you didn't do a post about your 64G SSD Macbook Pro on engadget?

[Ryan Block @ Nov 13th 2007 7:56PM]

Honestly? Because I'm kind of bored with all the Microsoft fanboys constantly attacking about how we're "totally biased towards Apple" etc. My goal was to test and comment on the drive, not give it an Apple slant... the MBP install was on my own time, so to speak. You know what I mean?

[BigPana @ Nov 13th 2007 8:01PM]

Ok, I totally understand, there is some serious hating going on around here in the comments lately towards anything apple related, it's kinda sad. It was pretty cool though!

[BigPana @ Nov 13th 2007 8:03PM]

Ok, I totally understand, there is some serious hating going on around here in the comments lately towards anything apple related, it's kinda sad. It was pretty cool though! At least a bunch of people at Digg saw and digged it.

[ethana2 @ Nov 14th 2007 12:29AM]

I don't mind their constant making of waves. Cover what happens.

I mind their blatant abuse of the DMCA, and their failure to acknowledge to the public where they get their code.

[John Doe @ Nov 14th 2007 1:38AM]

Not Apple related....just iPhone related. :-P

[Chuckles McGee @ Nov 13th 2007 7:42PM]

Isn't this really similar to Intel's Turbo Memory design?

[Crayola @ Nov 13th 2007 7:59PM]

For God sake, why hasn't anyone design a USB controller chip that will access multiple SD card with compatible speed and lump it up as one single upgradable drive, think like 8 x 2GB SD card makes a very decent SSD.

There must be gozillion abandoned SD card who needs a good home.

[Crayola @ Nov 13th 2007 8:08PM]

Oh wait... Looks like somebody has done it DIY already!

http://www.pldesignline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201801755

[Nubaeus @ Nov 13th 2007 8:16PM]

I gave you pos just to ruin your expectations

[James Yopp @ Nov 13th 2007 8:43PM]

Nice. If I'm just gonna upgrade the hell out of it anyway, why not just get the 4G EEE PC and be done with it? It looks like this SSD, ad least, is a good upgrade path. But, then again, there's the rumor of the tiny Macbook. What to do?

[Thunderbuck @ Nov 13th 2007 8:54PM]

Interesting. I kind of wonder just how much memory is in this thing...

I'm thinking anything less than 2 GB isn't going to be terribly useful.

[Dragon @ Nov 13th 2007 9:24PM]

So sandisk finaly has its own "Intel Turbo Memory".

[Blake Bowen @ Nov 13th 2007 9:42PM]

If this thing can stop Vista from constantly accessing my hard drive for no apparent reason, I'm in.

[ethana2 @ Nov 14th 2007 12:32AM]

A good OS would buffer hard disk writes, and do them in clumps, and use an elevator algorithm to put an end to excessive head movement.

...oh wait...

Yeah, you have bigger problems than your storage medium.
~ Happy Gutsy user.

[Brian @ Nov 14th 2007 3:29PM]

@ethana2:
Wow very clever. How's that working out for you?

Oh wait, you mean a hard disk does things other than writing, like reading? Hmm... I wonder what it could be doing...

[EdMercer @ Nov 13th 2007 11:18PM]

If the BIOS recognizes this as a hard-drive we've just found the perfect use for that spare PCI-E Mini slot on the EEE PC.

[jhrizz @ Nov 13th 2007 11:33PM]

What is the actual size of that? San Disk is providing the media for the Sony EX Camera. It employs Express34 cards that happen to come in 8 and 16GB sizes. They are charging LOT$ for them claiming that higher than normal speeds are required to provide consistency and stability. Hmm...

[Victor @ Nov 14th 2007 10:18AM]

Price?

Will this wonderfull tool be available to install as an upgrade to an existing laptop, assuming you have the available port? It'd be sweet to boot windows from this instead of the HDD!