Intel's Rugged SSD Makes Netbooks More Affordable

Intel (News - Alert) Corp. announced a new addition, the Intel X25-V Value SATA SSD, with 40GB drive, and priced at $125.

 

This is aimed at value segment netbooks and dual-drive/boot drive desktop set-ups to offer users the performance and reliability advantages of solid-state computing at an affordable, entry-level price.

 

SSD's are slowly entering the market. They can be used instead of HDD's or can co-exist with them. The huge advantage which makes SSD's a more reliable option, is that they don't have any moving parts at all. Users can hence enjoy the benefits of an SSD, by adding this to the desktop PC in a dual drive set up.

 

In a dual-drive configuration, the Intel X25-V SSD is added to a desktop with an existing HDD. The Operating system is loaded onto the SSD along with other favorite applications..The HDD is used for the storage of additional data.

 

The SSD also speeds operations such as system start up, the opening of applications and files or resuming from standby. 'The Intel solid-state drive is our top-selling SSD,' Stephen Yang, product manager for solid-state drives at e-tailer Newegg.com., said.

 

Yang further added that the new value entry from Intel meant more customers would have the chance to experience the benefits of SSD's, not just in notebooks or high-end PCs, but in mainstream desktops as a boot drive. This was the right price point to help convert more users to SSD computing.

 

The Intel X25-V features 40GB of 34nm NAND flash memory. This non-volatile memory retains data, even when the power is turned off, and is used in applications such as smartphones, personal music players, memory cards.

 

 SSD benefits over a traditional HDD include higher performance, battery saving and ruggedness. “Adding the Intel X25-V to our existing family of high-performance SSDs gives our resellers a full range of high-performing, quality SSDs for notebook upgrades, dual-drive desktop set ups or embedded applications,” said Pete Hazen, director of marketing for the Intel NAND Solutions Group.

 

Hazen further added that SSD adoption continued to be one of the more exciting trends in personal computing, and this entry-level product would enable users to enjoy the productivity and performance benefits of Intel SSDs at a new price point..

 

The 40GB Intel X25-V complements Intel's higher performance Intel X25-M Mainstream SATA SSD product line offers 80GB and 160GB capacities. All Intel SSDs are designed and manufactured by Intel using its own NAND flash memory from IM Flash Technologies. A set of utility tools is included in the SSD toolbox, which has been developed by Intel.

 

Intel, renowned for its silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live.

 

In a related news release, Intel continued its innovative techniques and launched the Intel Xeon processor 5600 series, which delivered two new security features that enabled faster encryption.