Intel 311 Series Larson Creek SSD Pictured, Tested

[btarunr]

Intel's much talked about "Larson Creek" 311 Series entry-level SATA solid state drive (SSD), which forms the foundation of Intel Smart Response technology was pictured and tested. The SSD comes in a standard-looking 2.5-inch shell resembling many other Intel SSD models. Unlike the more popular X25-M series, the 311 Series SSDs use 34 nm single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash memory, and comes in low capacities such as 20 GB. That's not even enough capacity to install the OS and important applications (which is barely possible on 40 GB SSDs), but that's not the purpose of the SSD. It assists hard drives, acting as a fast "cache", storing only the most important system and program files. Upon opening, one can see Intel-made controller and NAND flash chips. The 311 Series "Larson Creek" 20 GB SSD was put through a run of CrystalDiskMark, where it clocked transfer rates of nearly 199 MB/s sequential read, and 114 MB/s sequential write.



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[newfellow]

crappy inaccurate bs.

benchmark data on place and stop the bs intel.

 

[Fourstaff]

crappy inaccurate bs.

benchmark data on place and stop the bs intel.

Uhh, this is not from Intel...

 

[HalfAHertz]

There are other OS-es besides Windows that can easily fit in 20GB...And even Win 7 /Vista can be shrunk with vlite

 

[TheLostSwede]

Do note that this is an SLC SSD, not MLC, hence the insane price point...
It's also a way for Intel to get rid of its TSOP chips, as it's moving its SLC chips to BGA packaging.

 

[Sinzia]

it would be the right size for SSD caching on the z68 chipset raids.

 

[sy5tem]

hehe this would be like for saving $$$ by using mechanical hard drive + this for caching..? its so expensive that most people will simply go with 1 or 2 SSD drive...

unless im missing the point?

 

[LoneEagle70]

Keep in mind the drive is using SLC and not MLC. SLC chips are twice the price.

 

[Completely Bonkers]

There are other OS-es besides Windows that can easily fit in 20GB...And even Win 7 /Vista can be shrunk with vlite

IMO 20GB SSD is a brilliant size for an OS install (e.g. XP/2K3/linux). Then use HDDs for data and applications. I'd use it for a webserver. OS on SSD, RAID 1 HDD hotswap for the database in 1UE rackmount. Nice. Except for the current $119 price tag. If that was more like $60 it would be a winner. Give it 6 months.

 

[yogurt_21]

slc, should be very rialiable and last forever. nice.

 

[zads]

Keep in mind the drive is using SLC and not MLC. SLC chips are twice the price.

Actually closer to 3x-4x the price of MLC..

 

[HalfAHertz]

IMO 20GB SSD is a brilliant size for an OS install (e.g. XP/2K3/linux). Then use HDDs for data and applications. I'd use it for a webserver. OS on SSD, RAID 1 HDD hotswap for the database in 1UE rackmount. Nice. Except for the current $119 price tag. If that was more like $60 it would be a winner. Give it 6 months.

Yea too bad they also butchered the drive and have only 5 channels out of 10 populated with nand flash. Read and write speeds are literally half of the true capabilities of the controller.