Intel, OCZ, Kingston and Plextor launch new solid-state disks

The next few months will see new solid-state disks from several major manufacturers.

The disks, also known as SSDs, are memory-based replacements for conventional computer hard disks, using similar technology to the flash memory used in USB memory keys and camera memory cards.

However, the memory used in SSDs is much faster and therefore more expensive. That has been the sticking point and the reason for the failure of SSDs to appear in many home computers.

A representative of memory specialist Kingston Technology told Computeractive: "Higher capacities, lower prices, faster performance: that's what the customer wants".

Kingston is to release its next generation of SSD products, the V200 range, later in the year, in partnership with chipset maker Sandforce. It will support the faster Sata 6Gbits/sec data transfer standard.

At the Cebit trade show in Hannover, Germany, the company was showing off its V+180 product, which is a 1.8in SSD for fitting in very small computers and other devices.

Intel's new SSD line, the SSD 510, has transfer speeds of up to 500Mbytes/sec, and comes in 120GB and 250GB capacities.

OCZ was also demonstrating its fastest new SSD devices, the Vertex 3 range. As with Kingston's new device, the Vertex 3 uses Sandforce controller chips and works with the Sata 6Gbits/sec standard. Data transfer speeds of up to 550Mbytes/sec are expected from the new disks.

It is also available in several versions and physical sizes from 1.8in to 3.5in. The 120GB 2.5in disk is expected to cost £200 with the 240GB model around £400.

Taiwanese manufacturer Lite-on will be releasing its own SSDs under the Plextor brand name later this week. The 128GB PX128M2S model, in the 2.5in size, will cost €299, while a 64GB version will cost €170 and a 256MB model €589.

Like the OCZ and Kingston disks, the new model will have Sata 6Gbits/sec connections. The disk uses a Marvell controller chip and Toshiba memory.

To read more of our reporting from the Cebit 2011 trade show, click here