Intel SSD Roadmap - Bigger & Faster

Vir · 30 Jan 2009 at 10:44

Intel is planning to double the capacity of their current SSD line-up by moving from 50nm to 34nm process technology in Q4 2009. There will be three capacities for X18-M and X25-M MLC SSD; 80GB, 160GB and 320GB and two capacities for the top end X25-E SLC SSD; 64GB and 128GB. Performance is expected to be better as well with an updated controller.

Intel is also launching a successor to the Intel Turbo Memory, known as Braidwood in Q1 2010 for mainstream PCs. Its aim is to provides SSD-like performance on second generation Ibex Peak chipsets like Q57, P57 and H57. Braidwood requires Firmware support, Intel Rapid Storage Technology as well as the Braidwood module. It will come in 3 capacities; 4GB, 8GB and 16GB based on Intel's 34nm process technology.

The pricing of the SSDs is unavailable at this point of time but be prepared to pay a premium for them.

Source: VR-Zone

jvowles · 30 Jan 2009 at 11:05

This is way forward for the primary drive...but price is the main issue right now.

NickK · 30 Jan 2009 at 15:28

Intel - pummelling the opposition whilst they're down lol.

sja360 · 30 Jan 2009 at 20:20

arent they going to need to update from SATA 2 within the next few years? i mean the max bandwidth is 300Mb/sec isnt it?

StephenLawUK · 30 Jan 2009 at 20:24

SATA 3 is on its way http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#SATA_6Gb.2Fs
as well as PCI-E 3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express#PCI_Express_3.0
and also USB 3

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9780794-7.html

miniyazz · 30 Jan 2009 at 22:28

I was always slightly disappointed to discover they're only doubling the specification for SATA 3 from SATA 2, since with SSDs on the rise it's not going to be long befor SATA 3 is maxed out, especially when considering RAID. And that they're multiplying by 10 the speed of USB..

StephenLawUK · 30 Jan 2009 at 22:37

dedicated raid card running through PCI-E would be only option if it does max out SATA 3

Talrinys · 30 Jan 2009 at 23:05

StephenLawUK said:
dedicated raid card running through PCI-E would be only option if it does max out SATA 3

Even if this generation won't, by the end of 2010 the SATA 3 standard will be more than matched by SSD's and some mechanical harddrives will almost be there too, i really hope they have SATA 4 ready by then, or that quite useful and nice standard will die.

miniyazz · 31 Jan 2009 at 10:51

Talrinys said:
Even if this generation won't, by the end of 2010 the SATA 3 standard will be more than matched by SSD's and some mechanical harddrives will almost be there too, i really hope they have SATA 4 ready by then, or that quite useful and nice standard will die.

But will it? Is there anything else to replace it? And it takes time to develop a standard to be adopted by both motherboards and hard drives. I would've thought by the time a need was really identified for a standard faster than SATA 3, SATA 4 would be in the pipeline and would be adopted in preference to any other new standard due to backwards compatibilty.