Intel has just announced a new line of mobile SSDs as a part of the 'Soda Creek' family that promises to bring a new level of performance to the ultraportable computing market.
The SSD 310 series delivers performance on par with the X25 family in a package only an eighth of the size of a normal 2.5in drive. This translates to sequential read and write speeds of up to 200MB/s and 70MB/s with random 4k reads hitting 35,000 IOPS in a package that's 50mm x 30mm and only 5mm thick.
The drives are built using Intel's 34nm NAND flash, will come in capacities of 40GB and 80GB and use the relatively common PCIe mini-connector. MTBF is rated at 1.2 million hours.
What this means is that tablets and ultraportables are going to continue to get smaller, lighter and speedier thanks to this sort of memory module. Lenovo has already committed to integrating the drives in next-generation ThinkPad laptops and they're certain to turn up in a range of systems from other manufacturers over the coming months.
It also means that we're likely to see an increasing number of 'dual-drive' systems that pair one of these SSDs with a high-capacity mechanical drive to get the best of both speed and storage. The svelte SSD 310 will enable ultraportable PCs to integrate multiple drives in a way that is usually reserved for desktop replacements that have the space for two 2.5in drives.
Intel's SSD 310s are shipping to customers now - although don't hold your breath retail availability - priced at $99 (£77 inc VAT) for the 40GB model and $179 for the 80GB (£140 inc VAT). Expect to see the first laptops shipping with them in the first half of 2011.
