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Micron RealSSD P320h can read 3GBps, write 2GBps, impress millions of geeks per second
Speed may be a relative thing, but whatever you choose to compare Micron's new RealSSD P320h series to, you'll probably find them pretty competitive. Coming in 350GB and 700GB capacities, these PCI Express solid state drives can process data at a rate of 3GB per second and write it at a no less impressive 2GBps. If you're more interested in input / output operations per second, the P320h clocks in at 750,000 IOPS when running Linux or 650,000 with Windows Server as the OS. You don't need us to tell you that both numbers represent screaming-fast performance. Such mighty feats are achieved with the use of 34nm SLC NAND flash memory and Micron's own controller chip. Samples of the P320h are trickling out now and mass production is coming in the third quarter of 2011, and while no pricing info has been offered yet, it's safe to say you'll be needing your company CFO's blessing before making any P320h purchases. Video and full PR after the break.
(You can't get no) SATAsfaction 6Gbps SSDs (yet)
Enterprise solid state drives aren't typically our foray, but when they support SATA 6G, we pay attention. It also doesn't hurt when they sport a fantastic name. The SATAsfaction drives from Accelerated Memory Production (AMP) have both Sandforce controllers and the speedy ports to match, alongside 12 byte per sector ECC error correction and TRIM support. Still, they're not the fastest SSDs around, clocking in at only 260MB / sec reads and 150MB / sec writes, but they do have SLC flash memory for likely higher reliability than the current speed demon. No pricing or availability yet, but SLC NAND is pretty expensive stuff... so unless you're buying for a corporation with a large bankroll, better count on waiting for the cheaper Devo version.
Super Talent adds SandForce controller to new TeraDrive SSDs
All we ever hear of that SandForce SF-1500 controller seems to be about how wickedly fast it is, so we'd be remiss not to inform you that it's found another home -- this time inside Super Talent's new enterprise-class SSD line. Branded as TeraDrive FT2, these drives will range from 50GB to 400GB on MLC NAND flash, or up to 200GB on the even nicer SLC-based stuff. The only hurdle in all this glory is that the hardware seems destined primarily for non-consumer markets, with OEMs getting samples now and expecting volume deliveries by the end of this quarter. Then again, if you really can't wait for these to filter through in consumer machines, we're sure OCZ and RunCore will be more than happy to sell you some of their own silly fast SandForce-infused gear.
Video: Micron's Washington PCIe prototype SSD card is wicked quick
Up until now, Fusion-io's ioDrive has pretty much put every other SSD-on-a-PCIe-card to shame in terms of sheer performance, but it just might be looking at its first formidable competitor in the Micron Washington. The prototype device was recently showcased on video (posted after the break), and while we're not told how capacious it is, it is understood to be using 64-bit SLC NAND chips. When placed in a Xeon-powered server, the unit is able to achieve 150,000 to 160,000 random write IOPS with a bandwidth of 800MB/sec per card. Micron is convinced that it can reach a bandwidth of 1GB/sec and 200,000 IOPS with this technology, though Fusion-io's CTO proclaims that users can achieve "over 6GB per second" when using eight of its ioDrives in conjunction. Of course, the aforementioned ioDrive is actually shipping, whereas this elusive Washington doodad won't see commercial light until at least 2010.[Via The Register, thanks Vik]
Samsung's 25GB / 50GB Enterprise SSDs can't stop, won't stop under heavy loads
pureSilicon's rugged Renegade SSDs may be tough as nails, but if you're lookin' to start up your own video-on-demand server or online transaction processing center, you may want to look Samsung's way. The outfit has just announced that it's mass producing 25GB and 50GB Enterprise SSDs, which are designed for "performance-optimized server applications." Sammy proclaims that the SLC-based drives have around "twice the random write performance of its standard 32GB and 64GB SLC SSDs," and better still, they consume less than 25% of the power of a 2.5-inch 15k SAS HDD. More specifically, this duo will provide 100 times the number of IOPS per watt as a typical 15K 2.5-inch SAS HDD and five times the number of IOPS per dollar as a 10K 2.5-inch SCSI HDD. Not surprisingly, Samsung doesn't bother dishing out prices, but you can expect to pay top dollar given the abuse these are built to withstand.
Toshiba introduces ultra-dense 43nm SLC NAND flash chips
The dense just keep getting denser -- er, something like that. Anywho, those who just love talking about fabrication technologies over tea and crumpets will adore what Toshiba's boasting: a new family of 43-nanometer SLC NAND flash products. The 16-member crew will range in density from 512Mbits to 64Gbits, with a trio of 'em (16Gb, 32Gb and 64Gb) integrating 43nm monolithic 16Gb chips, "the highest density SLC NAND chips available." Tosh is hoping to find its new gear in all sorts of mobile phones, office automation equipment and servers when they begin shipping in Q1 2009, but it's keeping pretty quiet on the pricing front for now.[Via Physorg]
Samsung unveils quick 64GB SSD
Oh sweet mother of solid state disks, Samsung just birthed another. Their new 1.8-inch 64GB SSD not only doubles the capacity of their current offering, it's said to be up to 60% faster than their existing SLC NAND-based 32GB SSD to boot. Mass production of this 1.8-inch drop-in replacement for hard disks is expected to begin in Q2. Fine, but hey, Samsung, in case you haven't noticed SSDs are already plenty fast enough in comparison to the conventional hard disks they are meant to replace. So how 'bout bringing us consumers bigger and cheaper SSDs based on your new MLC NAND instead of your lickity-quick SLC NAND? After all, Sandisk and Toshiba are breathing down your neck on this one. Thanks for listening.
