Intel Sets Bar High with SSDs

Companys says it will launch 80-160GB solid state chips in the second-quarter
By Jim O'Neill,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 8, 2008 10:43 AM CST
Intel Sets Bar High with SSDs
The newly released MacBook Air offers an optional 64GB solid-state drive.   (Associated Press)

Intel will bring a bigger—and faster—solid state drive to market in the second quarter that will heat up the competition between chipmakers and launch a new generation of laptops and PCs based on SSDs rather than hard drives, reports CNET. Intel’s 80-160GB SSDs are twice as fast as current hard drives and outpace rival Samsung’s 100mbs SSD.

SSDs are based on Flash memory like those used in cameras and thumb drives. Unlike hard drives, they have no moving parts to fail. So, they’re more reliable and much faster. They’re also much more expensive; upgrades from standard hard drives can cost $1,000. Intel says prices will drop quickly as demand and manufacturing ramp up. (More Intel stories.)

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