Intel To Introduce Solid State Drives

Intel has introduced a new set of solid state drives called the 310 Series to complement ‎their existing range of X25 models.‎

The 310 SSD Series solid state devices offer comparable capacities and almost analogous ‎performances but occupy only a tenth of the volume; measuring only 51mm x 30mm x ‎‎5mm thick and doing away with the plastic casing that normally houses the 2.5-inch X-25 ‎electronics and board.

Two drives would be made available in 40GB and 80GB with ‎reading speeds of 170MBps and 200MBps respectively with writing speeds of 35MBps ‎and 80MBps; additionally, they consume an equal amount of idle and active power as ‎their larger counterparts. The drives cannot be purchased off the shelf from any retailer as ‎they would be available only to Original Equipment Manufacturers for $99 and $179 in ‎‎1000-unit quantities, at a price slightly higher than the equivalent X-25. ‎

Lenovo has already confirmed their plans to use the drive in their thinkpad laptops. Intel ‎is very keen to promote the drive in their dual-drive notebook configurations with the 310 ‎series to be used as the system drive. The 310 Series uses the miniature mini-SATA form ‎factor and a new 34nm manufacturing process. The new storage devices could as well be ‎a re-evolution of Robson, Intel’s Turbo Memory which was unveiled about five years ‎ago.‎