New Intel SSD out in Feb

[razel]

There's too much non-official information out there. If everyone believes it as fact, you'll all be setting yourself up a performance disappointment when it really does come out. Of course, I'd LOVE to be wrong about that.

I remember when the Intel 120GB was 1st available for purchase on newegg early Nov., Then wham! Within 2 weeks on Black Friday it was $165. I'm sure these newer Intel's will be available for $1.5 a GIG at retail and closer to $1 a GIG later this year, but not at launch. I'd give it a month or so before we see $1.5 a GIG.

What excites me is the prices for the current G2 120GB. Intel will surely have to drop those prices below the G3 prices. Those are the ones I'll be hunting after and for sure will be the 'best bang for you buck' until G3's reach $1.25 a GIG.

Performance wise it seems like the 500 series is the killer whale, the 300s for everyone else. It follows the Core i3, i5, i7 branding. A 700 series in the future????

 

[jimhsu]

is this correct?:
SSDSA2xxxxxG3xx = Intel 320 series (25nm) 250/170 MB/s R/W
SSDSC2MH120A2K5, SSDSC2MH250A2K5 = Intel 510 ssd series (34nm) (R/W 450/300 280$ for 120gb)
These two 34nm based drives seem cheap as the current Intel 120GB (250/100) is priced at 230$

[So maybe G3 320 series 120GB will be at ~180$?]

There was a sale for 120GB for $169 some time back. If I could get that for the 160GB or 240GB model, I'd be game for upgrading my 80GB X-25M and moving it to a notebook.

I'd want a deal for $250 for the 160GB or $350 for the 240GB. Don't think I'll see it though. For whatever reason larger capacity drives seen to have LESS deals.

Too expensive still. Almost bought a Vertex 2, but OCZ's screwed up 25nm implementation came out (fortunately it might just be resolved in the coming weeks).

 

[gundersausage]

Will the 120GB be slightly slower (purposely crippled) than the 250GB?

And how will 510 stack up against SF-2000?

 

[Hayte]

Nobody really knows when it comes to SF-2000. The only thing you can be certain of is that Sandforce are going to use the absolute best case theoretical numbers to sell the technology, and you will in all likelihood never actually see consistent real world performance like it. Just like with SF-1200.

The Vertex 3 pro preview muddies the waters for most folks around here because it had an enterprise class controller (SF-2500). SF-2000 itself is something of an information black hole. Anyway, the pre-production Vertex 3 pro was also sporting that expensive but classy Toshiba DDR NAND, so anything that filters down to newegg for the consumer market ain't going to be anything like this drive. And if it is, its going to cost alot more than the G3 or 510.

 

[zod96]

So the end of the month is release day nice...

 

[ksec]

Well i got to disappoint you all. 510 will be based on Marvell Controller, as reported by someone in Mobile 01 who has already brought the thing.

So Where is the actual Intel G3??

 

[zod96]

Oh well that sucks. The new vertex is sata 6 correct?

 

[Axon]

So what do you guys recommend? The March 1st Intel drive or wait on OCZ?

 

[Voo]

Anyway, the pre-production Vertex 3 pro was also sporting that expensive but classy Toshiba DDR NAND, so anything that filters down to newegg for the consumer market ain't going to be anything like this drive. And if it is, its going to cost alot more than the G3 or 510.

Yep I also wondered about that - will the new trend be to send reviewers drives using high level NAND and then sell the lower level variants to customers? I really hope not and this was just a preview for Anand. But still something to look out for in the future.

 

[RhoXS]

After a lot of vacillating about what to do I am down to two choices, both clearly Intel. I am either going to buy a 120 Gb G2 now to be safe with a 34 nm drive or wait until after all the early adopters buy the G3, the market settles, and there is a credible body of real world experience with this, in my opinion, not ready for prime time technology. Since I do not feel good about 25 nm technology I am itching to just buy the 120 GB G2 right now for $230. I am so pleased with how well my Intel 80 GB G2 is performing I would do this today if I really needed 120 GB right now. I just do not want to spend $230.00 for something I can wait six months or more before I really will need it. 120 Gb would allow me to move a 21 GB and growing data base to the SSD but this would really be more an excuse to buy now than credible justification. My guess, I will probably impulse buy the 120 GB G2 in the next week or two and sleep well knowing I have a proven drive that will perform well and be reliable.

 

[gundersausage]

The Vertex 3 already had better numbers and now the Intel has a Marvell controller, can anyone make a case for the 510 versus SF-2000?

 

[max789]

Is there a real possibility that the forthcoming G3 25nm X25-M 80GB will be a bit slower than the G2 34nm X25-M 80GB, due to error correction and other 25nm-related issues?

 

[MagickMan]

Is there a real possibility that the forthcoming G3 25nm X25-M 80GB will be a bit slower than the G2 34nm X25-M 80GB, due to error correction and other 25nm-related issues?

Yes, I think there is.

 

[zod96]

Wait wait. Your telling me that the new INTEL drives due next month are using a marvel controller instead of their own???

 

[Emulex]

waitin' for 600gb drives got 16 slots empty on the dl380

 

[ksec]

Wait wait. Your telling me that the new INTEL drives due next month are using a marvel controller instead of their own???

Yes. Unless Intel has something else planned. Which seems very unlikely.

 

[Edrick]

Wait wait. Your telling me that the new INTEL drives due next month are using a marvel controller instead of their own???

This is no a proven fact. We will need to wait until some reviewers get their hands on them. There was a rumor a few weeks ago that Intel would be using Marvell, but was never confirmed.

If the 510 series uses an Intel controller, I will be ordering one ASAP. If not, then I will purchase a 120GB G2. I am staying away from 25nm for now.

 

[ksec]

This is no a proven fact. We will need to wait until some reviewers get their hands on them. There was a rumor a few weeks ago that Intel would be using Marvell, but was never confirmed.

If the 510 series uses an Intel controller, I will be ordering one ASAP. If not, then I will purchase a 120GB G2. I am staying away from 25nm for now.

It is confirmed, someone from Far East has already gotten their hands and review it. It is using Marvel Controller.

So Unless G3 != to 510, then all we get will be an Intel NAND based Marvel SSD.

 

[huelle]

I had already posted that Intel will be using a Marvel controller in my original thread (in case some of you would like to start reading from the beginning) - what's the fuzz about, the controller is ok and as the 501 will be able to encrypt (don't know whether it was AES 128 or 256) the power consumption will rise anyway, if that is something that concerns you (as the old Marvel controller is not the most power efficient one).
If you have an older laptop (maybe one that only supports SATA 150, like a TP X6x T6x) I guess the old G2 is still one of the best buys around.

 

[czesiu]

It is confirmed, someone from Far East has already gotten their hands and review it. It is using Marvel Controller.

So Unless G3 != to 510, then all we get will be an Intel NAND based Marvel SSD.

and AFAIU G3 = series 320

 

[Edrick]

It is confirmed, someone from Far East has already gotten their hands and review it. It is using Marvel Controller.

Woah, some unknown person from the Fart East....

Must be official then! :\

 

[Golgatha]

SATA2's maximum transfer rate is 375 MB/s, The highest speeds I've seen on any review have been in the order of 200 MB/s.

Even assuming 75 MB/s are consumed due to overhead, that is still 100 MB/s more room to play with.

Actually SATA 2 uses a 2 bit ECC and 8 bit serialized interface. The max throughput is 300MB/s.

 

[razel]

So much excitement about the G3. Seems like the most solid info is there are two series Intel will be releasing. A 300 series that's their 3rd gen controller using the 25nm, then there's the 500 series that's looks to be a Marvell based controller on 34nm. Nothing wrong with that especially if it'll haul major butt. Can't wait to see the benches, release to retail, then G2 discounts. I'm pretty sure the 500 series will be a price premium, the 300 series is entry level. But Intel's entry level still stellar.

 

[Voo]

Can't wait to see the benches, release to retail, then G2 discounts.

Remember the last time Intel discounted any product when a newer one was released? Yep me neither - didn't happen for the G1s or their CPUs as long as I can remember. Though ebay and co are another matter entirely.

 

[razel]

Remember the last time Intel discounted any product when a newer one was released? Yep me neither - didn't happen for the G1s or their CPUs as long as I can remember. Though ebay and co are another matter entirely.

Remember when I said discontinued? Yep me neither.