Sandisk unveils new, faster, bigger laptop SSDs
By Tim Stevens 
posted January 8th 2009 12:01PM
posted January 8th 2009 12:01PM
posted January 8th 2009 12:01PM
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I wish someone would make a laptop SSD with an ATA interface for my older laptop. Just max out the ATA133 speeds, and I'd be quite happy with it. New life for old gear!
Ask and you shall receive:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/30/runcores-1-8-inch-netbook-ssds-now-shipping-2-5-inch-256gb-edi/
The problem is even though the picture shows a standard PATA pinout, the actual product uses a ZIF connector.
Sandisk also seems to have a similar product:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/sandisk-outs-gen-2-pssds-for-blossoming-netbook-sector/
finally, ssd's are getting to a pricepoint that is close to acceptable... 50 dollars (or so) cheaper, and they'll be universal
The G3 SSDs are more than five times faster than the fastest 7,200 RPM HDDs and more than twice as fast as SSDs shipping in 2008, clocking in at 40,000 vRPM1 and anticipated sequential performance of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write3. The G3 SSDs provide a Long-term Data Endurance (LDE) of 160 terabytes written (TBW) for the 240GB version, sufficient for over 100 years of typical user usage.
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In addition, the SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available on sandisk.com for do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts.
^^^ And Bose speakers are the world's best.
Of course they don't list the random write speed which for me is one of the most important metrics. The 64GB MLC from OCZ I tested was able to sustain a whole .1MB/s of random writes. A Samsung SLC was better at 1MB/s. The only useful device so far has been the intel MLC at 8MB/s. Haven't tested the intel SLC yet.
Well, to most people who aren't used to anything faster than a 7200RPM HD, ~1MB/s would be more than fine. It's the .1MB/s transfer rate and incredibly high latency of most MLC drives that are the problem. Intel's MLC architecture is a breakthrough when it comes to random writes. But if SanDisk could give at least ~1MB/s and decent latency on random writes at less than half the price of Intel, it will be more than good enough for most people.
One of these bad boys with a clean Win 7 install should be very responsive.
Well, I think in the future Hard Drives will only be used for backup.
Looks SSDs are finally replacing HDs... I can use a 240GB drive, that's big enough.
I will have to forego carrying all four seasons of Doctor Who with me at all times but I think I can live with that. I will gladly trade it for the speed and reliability (? - hopefully) of a SSD.
I think you can safely delete that episode with the olympics.
My build is running on 18GB used right now. Win7, with office and a couple other programs. Even after moving over music and the like, 120GB would be plenty. Fast, low latency 120GB for that price? Count me in.
Wow, just to comment on the state of the industry, I remember when we were all looking at $2500+ SSDs on here all the time.. And even if the cheapest SSDs aren't the fastest, it is AMAZING how fast the prices have come down.
It had to be about a year ago or maybe two and someone was bitching about the price of a certain SSD. Well I did the math and it was something $15/Gigabyte, and I said just wait a couple of years and they'll be down to $5 per gigabyte.
The Sandisk models above are insane! 120GB for $249, 240GB for $499... Thats almost down to $2/Gigabyte!