Intel has launched a new generation of SSD drives called the SSD 530 series. These drives are aimed at platforms such as Ultrabooks, tablets and small form factor PCs but are also good choices for traditional desktops and laptops. Intel says the new SSD 530 Series offers higher performance across new form factors and very low idle power requirements.
Intel introduced the new drive series headlining the presentation "Lose the lag. Lose the limits". The SSD 530 series drives use the latest 20nm NAND technology backed by Intel's reputation for quality and reliability. The drives consume less power while operating and while idle. Performance is said to have been perked up too.
The headlining performance figures for all of the Intel 530 series of drives (except for the 80GB version of the M.2 drive, see link above) is the same; up to 540 MB/s and 490 MB/s sequential read and write respectively and up to 41K IOPS and 80K IOPS random read and write respectively. Only the physical drive dimensions and power consumption varies, with the 2.5-incher using more power (see table below).
Note the very low power consumption figures measured in milliwatts and microwatts
Another important difference between the form factors on offer are the capacities in which the drives are available. The 2.5-inch version is available in the most and largest capacities, after all it's the largest physical size on offer. As such you can get an 80GB, 120GB, 180GB, 240GB, 360GB or 480GB 2.5-inch SSD 530. The mSATA format drive is available in 80GB, 120GB, 180GB and 240GB capacities, the M.2 format drive is available in 80GB, 120GB, 180GB and 360GB capacities. All the drives use a SATA 6Gb/s interface, backwards compatible with SATA 3Gb/s.
We have as yet no pricing nor availability info on this newly announced drive series.
