Intel SSD 520 Series SandForce-Driven, Launch Very Soon

[btarunr]

Although Intel has its SSD 510 series to target the high-end client market segment, it's available in very few capacities, and is facing tough competition from "SandForce-Driven" SSDs (SSDs that use SandForce-made controllers). In 2012, Intel will give its SSD lineup a large-scale revamp, which includes the gradual replacement of SSD 510 series with new SSD 520 "Cherryville" series. Targeting the same high-end client segment, SSD 520 will be available in a wider variety of capacities that includes 60 GB, 120 GB, 180 GB, 240 GB, and 480 GB.

We are now getting to learn through a fresh report by TheSSDReview, the idea behind SSD 520: that Intel wants to use SandForce SSD processors. The new drives feature transfer rates of up to 550 MB/s reads, 520 MB/s writes, 70,000 IOPS 4K random write throughput, and overprovisioned capacities consistent with most SandForce-driven SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs in the market. SSD 520 should hence provide the best of both worlds: the trust Intel brand brings to the table with a possible secret-sauce firmware; and the high-performance of SandForce controllers. Intel's SSD 510 uses a Marvell-made controller, many of its previous generation SSDs have used its in-house SSD controllers. TheSSDReview reports that the launch of these drives is imminent.



Source: TheSSDReview

[RejZoR]

I bet these will cost like 1500 EUR each if they want to properly balance the price against their Marvell based units. Otherwise they'd be spitting in their own bowl...
I hope i'm wrong and that these will be competitively priced against other SandForce driven units.

[Completely Bonkers]

Did I read that correctly? Wow. I'm surprised Intel hasn't got the intel to do their own controllers. I wouldn't have believed it... if it werent for the comment that they are currently using Marvell controllers!

I wonder if this is a short-term "generation" quick-fix. To stay competitive in the market they have to adopt Sandforce quick... but the longer term strategy must be to have their own controller.

But didn't LSI just buy Sandforce? Ah, quick, let's buy LSI shares... Intel will take them over next.

[BrooksyX]

Intel's drives are just to expensive. I bought a Samsung 830 64gb for $95 (only cost me $65 after sold included games and software) and it has 500mb read and 160mb write. Yes the write speed is slower but at a fraction of the cost and I have a 2nd on the way for raid 0 with will help with the write speed.

[Fx]

Originally Posted by BrooksyX

Intel's drives are just to expensive. I bought a Samsung 830 64gb for $95 (only cost me $65 after sold included games and software) and it has 500mb read and 160mb write. Yes the write speed is slower but at a fraction of the cost and I have a 2nd on the way for raid 0 with will help with the write speed.

$65, lol nice, that sounds like the shit I do. Craigslist FTMFW!

it will be interesting to see how these drives fair. reliability and price are two big IFs for this marriage

[Kantastic]

Originally Posted by BrooksyX

Intel's drives are just to expensive. I bought a Samsung 830 64gb for $95 (only cost me $65 after sold included games and software) and it has 500mb read and 160mb write. Yes the write speed is slower but at a fraction of the cost and I have a 2nd on the way for raid 0 with will help with the write speed.

I did the same exact thing. I refused to settle for SF, what with all their issues, so I held out until BF and scored an 80GB Intel 320 for my laptop and a 64GB Samsung 830 for my desktop. Both of them cost me about $130 combined. Onto the Intel 520 series drives, I wonder if SF-based Intel drives have less issues than a smaller company like OCZ. SF speeds with Intel's reliability would make for one hell of a drive.

[mastrdrver]

I do not see the Sandforce connection at all. So they have the same drive sizes and similar IOPS and peak transfer rates and then just to the conclusion that they must be Sandforce controllers???

[Mega-Japan]

Can't wait for the actual release date and prices, 'cause I'm actually planning to snatch a couple for a RAID 0 set up in my ENVY 17 laptop...