Preview: Intel's 34nm SSD - Cheaper and Faster? @ Anandtech

[WiCKeD]

Intel is aggressively setting to ramp up the competition to full force, in the MLC-based SSD market.

The rumors are true, Intel’s 2nd generation SSDs are available starting today.

The high level details are pretty interesting:

* The new drives will be available in 80GB and 160GB sizes and are still called the X25-M and X18-M. The X18-M will start shipping later this quarter.
* 34nm flash (down from 50nm in the original X25-M), allows Intel to include roughly twice the flash in the same size die.
* The enterprise SLC version doesn’t get the 34nm treatment at this point.
* The smaller flash die results in lower prices, the 80GB model will sell for $225 while the 160GB version should sell for $440.
* Best case read/write latency has been improved (more details below).
* The 34nm drives have a new controller and new firmware, also contributing to better performance (2 - 2.5x more 4KB random write IOPS than the old drive!). Enterprise level workstation/database apps should see an immediate performance benefit, client desktop performance is unknown. Don't expect a significant increase in PCMark or SYSMark scores, but in real world usage the new drives could feel faster.
* The new controller is Halogen-free (the old one wasn’t) so Apple could theoretically use the new drives in their systems without being un-green.
* TRIM isn’t yet supported, but the 34nm drives will get a firmware update when Windows 7 launches enabling TRIM. XP and Vista users will get a performance enhancing utility (read: manual TRIM utility). It seems that 50nm users are SOL with regards to TRIM support. Bad form Intel, very bad form.
* I get my drive this week, so expect a review to follow.

Full Preview @ Anandtech

[AruisDante]

wow, at that price they're going to be VERY hard to resist. I look forward to the results

[levathar]

I would not mind if they were smaller... making them cheaper...

[justinsn95]

That thing's a polished turd.







Wait no, I just felt like saying "polished turd".