Intel 34nm 160GB SSD First Pictures and Benchmarks
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:44 am
Just got the Intel 160GB 34nm SSDSA1MH160G2 drive in this morning:
Features:
The Intel X25-M on 34nm flash is drop-in compatible to the current 50nm version and traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). Higher in performance and durability than an HDD, the lightweight and low power Intel X25-M can also help extend notebook battery life. Featuring the latest-generation native SATA interface with an advanced architecture employing 10 parallel NAND Flash channels, the Intel SSD is architected with powerful Native Command Queuing to enable up to 32 concurrent operations. Other features include low write amplification and a unique wear-leveling design for higher reliability and longer lasting performance.
What’s different from the previous X25-M on 50nm and HDDs?
Compared to its previous 50nm version, the new Intel X25-M on 34nm offers decreased latency and faster random write Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) than its 50nm predecessor. Specifically, Intel’s new SSD provides a 25 percent further reduction in latency, for quicker access to data, operating at 65-microsecond read latency compared to approximately 4,000 microseconds for an HDD. Random write performance has increased 2x for the 80GB and 2.5x for the 160GB to further separate the X25-M from other SSDs. By delivering up to 6,600 4KB write IOPS (8,600 IOPS for the 160GB) and up to 35,000 read IOPS, the X25-M continues to set the bar for SSDs, while leapfrogging HDDs which only operate at several hundred IOPS for traditional HDDs. This provides for markedly faster system and application responsiveness. Overall, gamers, media creators and technology enthusiasts should experience faster PC responsiveness. The Intel X25-M on 34nm therefore widens the performance gap even further over HDDs on all fronts, including latency, sustained reads and writes and random read and writes.
The other difference that you might see is a new look. Intel continues to bring costs down, all the way down to the paint. So you will first notice that these SSDs are now silver.
Pricing:
On 34nm process lithography, Intel is passing on cost reductions to its customers. As of July 21, 2009, the channel price quoted for the X-25M 80GB is $225 (down from $595 at introduction one year ago) and the 160GB version is $440 (down from $945) for quantities up to 1,000 units. For the latest street pricing though, we suggest you check e-tailers, such as newegg.com, at time of your review.
Intel Mainstream Solid-State Drives on 34nm is currently shipping in the 2.5-inch standard form factor (Intel® X25-M Mainstream SATA Solid-State Drive), and will be shipping the 1.8-inch (Intel® X18-M Mainstream SATA Solid-State Drive) later in the quarter. Both have the same performance specifications.
More to come in a little bit!
- intel_ssdsa2mh160g2c1.jpg (36.18 KiB) Viewed 5916 times
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- intel_160gb_ssd.jpg (41.06 KiB) Viewed 5916 times
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The Intel X25-M on 34nm flash is drop-in compatible to the current 50nm version and traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). Higher in performance and durability than an HDD, the lightweight and low power Intel X25-M can also help extend notebook battery life. Featuring the latest-generation native SATA interface with an advanced architecture employing 10 parallel NAND Flash channels, the Intel SSD is architected with powerful Native Command Queuing to enable up to 32 concurrent operations. Other features include low write amplification and a unique wear-leveling design for higher reliability and longer lasting performance.
What’s different from the previous X25-M on 50nm and HDDs?
Compared to its previous 50nm version, the new Intel X25-M on 34nm offers decreased latency and faster random write Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) than its 50nm predecessor. Specifically, Intel’s new SSD provides a 25 percent further reduction in latency, for quicker access to data, operating at 65-microsecond read latency compared to approximately 4,000 microseconds for an HDD. Random write performance has increased 2x for the 80GB and 2.5x for the 160GB to further separate the X25-M from other SSDs. By delivering up to 6,600 4KB write IOPS (8,600 IOPS for the 160GB) and up to 35,000 read IOPS, the X25-M continues to set the bar for SSDs, while leapfrogging HDDs which only operate at several hundred IOPS for traditional HDDs. This provides for markedly faster system and application responsiveness. Overall, gamers, media creators and technology enthusiasts should experience faster PC responsiveness. The Intel X25-M on 34nm therefore widens the performance gap even further over HDDs on all fronts, including latency, sustained reads and writes and random read and writes.
The other difference that you might see is a new look. Intel continues to bring costs down, all the way down to the paint. So you will first notice that these SSDs are now silver.
Pricing:
On 34nm process lithography, Intel is passing on cost reductions to its customers. As of July 21, 2009, the channel price quoted for the X-25M 80GB is $225 (down from $595 at introduction one year ago) and the 160GB version is $440 (down from $945) for quantities up to 1,000 units. For the latest street pricing though, we suggest you check e-tailers, such as newegg.com, at time of your review.
Intel Mainstream Solid-State Drives on 34nm is currently shipping in the 2.5-inch standard form factor (Intel® X25-M Mainstream SATA Solid-State Drive), and will be shipping the 1.8-inch (Intel® X18-M Mainstream SATA Solid-State Drive) later in the quarter. Both have the same performance specifications.
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