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 .:Latest Topics |
:: PC Perspective . Storage
Kingston SSDNow V Series 40GB Desktop Bundle Review (with RAID!)Storage - Nov 17, 2009 | 09:00 AM Today we review not one but two of the new Kingston SSDNow V Series 40GB Boot Drives. Built on the excellent Intel SSD controller, these drives should perform well as compared to other low-cost offerings. We also tested a pair of them in RAID in an attempt to compete with Intel's 80GB offering. Can a pair of 40GB units best a single 80GB SSD? Come inside for the gouge. 
USB 3.0 and SATA 6G Performance Preview - ASUS brings the goodsStorage - Oct 30, 2009 | 12:00 AM Everyone is talking about USB 3.0, but we are actually testing it. Read this article if you want to see how ASUS' first motherboard with integrated SATA 6G and USB 3.0 controllers performs against SATA-II and USB 2.0 devices. Is the hype surrounding USB 3.0 worth the hassle and how much is it going to cost you to upgrade? 
SATA 6G 6.0 Gb/s Performance Preview - Seagate XT drive testedStorage - Oct 28, 2009 | 05:00 PM SATA 6G technology is being paraded around by motherboard manufacturers as one of the main reasons to upgrade your motherboard in the coming months but do the advantages really make the upgrade worthwhile? And how do these current SATA 6G implementations actually work? We look at the ASUS P7P55D Premium and an early sample of a Seagate SATA 6.0 Gb/s hard drive to see how the hype stands up.
Ryan Shrout | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Storage
I am a big proponent of USB 3.0 technology - I had an early test and experience with USB 3.0 hardware last month. In that article I evaluated the performance of the ASUS P7P55D-E Premium motherboard that used the NEC 720200 USB 3.0 controller paired with a USB 3.0 HDD dock. The results were pretty impressive:
Looking at these results, I would imagine most enthusiasts would like to see USB 3.0 sooner rather than later.
Well an interesting post from an OCZ rep seems to indicate that USB 3.0 accessories are coming sooner rather than later. In a post looking for help naming the product, OCZ appears to have developed a prototype USB 3.0 portable solid state drive. 
While we don't have any other specfications at this time, this is exactly the kind of portable USB 3.0 device that we need to really push the speed limits of this new technology. It looks like CES 2010 will be as busy a year as any for CES - they typically have a LOT of new stuff to showcase.
Now if we can only come up with a good name... And don't forget, if you haven't seen the early performance numbers from USB 3.0 devices, check out our preview here.
Allyn Malventano | Source: OCZ Technology | Subject: Storage
It's been a bumpy road for the OCZ Colossus. We caught our first glimpse of it back in June, and posted up some exclusive early testing data and pricing back in July. We've spent the past few months evaluating firmware performance, and have spent the past week torturing the prospective shipping firmware. I'm finishing up my long-term performance evaluation and will have a full review up shortly for your viewing pleasure.
The Colossus live and in the flesh at the PCPer Storage Lab. OCZ pushed out a formal press release which I have pasted below:
San Jose, Calif.—November 17, 2009—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and flash-based storage as an alternative to hard disk drives (HDDs), today released the Colossus 3.5” Solid State Drive (SSD) Series, designed to meet the performance and storage demands of high-end desktop users and enterprise clients. Available in up to one terabyte configurations, the Colossus Series marks a milestone in solid state drive technology, making it possible to have both high performance and high capacity in one solution.
“The new Colossus Series is designed to boost desktop and workstation performance and is for high power users that put a premium on speed, reliability and maximum storage capacity,” said Eugene Chang, VP of Product Management at the OCZ Technology Group. “The Colossus core-architecture is also available to enterprise clients with locked BOMs (build of materials) and customized firmware to match their unique applications.” In addition to ample capacity, the OCZ Colossus delivers excellent performance made possible by an internal RAID 0 architecture. Excelling at small file processes during common tasks such as emailing, web browsing, and file transfer, Colossus allows for a state-of-the-art computing experience from basic to complex applications: Maximum Performance: Colossus 3.5” SSD (120GB – 1TB) Maximum Read: 260MB/s Maximum Write: 260MB/s Sustained Write: 220MB/s Max IOPS (4k file size – random write): 14,000 For enterprise applications, Colossus SSDs not only diminish performance bottlenecks suffered by mechanical hard drive infrastructures, but reduce both heat and noise and provide a more durable alternative. This translates into exceptional energy-savings and reduced maintenance costs. Furthermore, the Colossus line is built with cost-effective multi-level cell (MLC) flash to make it a viable option for enterprise clients hesitant to adopt competing products due to the higher costs. The Colossus SSD is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB solutions to accommodate a broader spectrum of applications than current 2.5” SSD products; the 3.5” housing is a straight drop in for many existing rack systems. The Colossus SSD series has an excellent 1.5 million hour mean time between failures (MTBF) and comes backed by a leading 3-year warranty and dedicated technical support, ensuring peace of mind over the long term. Additionally, OCZ offers unique customization options for OEM clients that may require tailored hardware and firmware solutions for their unique business.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Storage
Right now at NewEgg you can pick up an Intel X25-M Mainstream 2.5" 160GB SATA II MLC Internal SSD(SSDSA2M160G2XXX) at an incredible price
The OEM price is $639.99 but there is a $50.00 instant rebate that brings the price down to $589.99. But wait, there's more! The promo code "BFPEEKSSD160" will drop the price by $175.00 making the 160GB second generation SSD only $414.99 and free shipping! Only one purchase per customer is allowed and the end date is the 22nd. TRIM firmware for these came out in parallel with Windows 7, unleashing incredible performance and 100 MB/sec write speed, but was a bit shaky. We are expecting that to be corrected within a week or two. 
Allyn Malventano | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Storage
I've been tracking the release and subsequent recall of the new TRIM firmware for the Intel X25-M G2 SSD. A recent update came from the Intel NAND solutions group to reflect an estimated release date set to happen "by the end of November". Given Intel spends a few weeks certifying each new firmware build, it's very likely they have already isolated the problem and built the new firmware. The post includes some detail as to what you should do if you have updated (successfully or unsuccessfully) to the new 02HA firmware.
As an additional side note, those running Windows Vista and 7 should note that if you successfully updated your X25-M G2 to 02HA and have been using the SSD Toolbox to manually / additionally TRIM your drive, you may be subject to corrupted System Restore points. The Intel site contains details on what configurations can cause this issue and they have published a workaround for those in that situation at present. This corruption won't happen if you simply stop using the manual optimization feature of the SSD Toolbox. Intel is working on an updated version of their tool. I suspect that new tool will likely be made available alongside the updated / fixed TRIM firmware, once released. 
Updates are coming... Patience, DanielSon!
Our X25-M G2 coverage: Intel X25-M 'G2' 34nm 160GB SSD Review Intel X25-M 'G2' TRIM Enabled Firmware and SSD Toolbox Review
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Legit Reviews | Subject: Storage
At 132 x 88 x 63 mm, or 5.2" x 3.4" x 2.5" for you imperialists the Thecus N0204 is tiny; a paperback book tends to be 110 mm x 178mm or 4.33" x 7.01" or if that doesn't put it into context, then the can of Bud Light at the end
of Legit Reviews article will probably help. It houses a pair of 2.5" drives, perfect for those SSDs, and can transfer data via Ethernet or USB 2.0 and even has a USB port to hook a printer up to. The OXFord 810DSE processor that powers this miniature storage device really can't keep up with the maximum transfer rate of a pair of SSDs in RAID-0 but it does a fairly good job without needing much power or taking up much space.
"The Thecus N0204 miniNAS is said to be the world’s smallest fully-featured NAS device. Measuring in at just 132 x 88 x 63 mm exterior, one could easily mistake the N0204 as a regular external hard drive. However, look closer and you will see a very capable two-bay NAS device that fits right in the palm of your hand. Thecus manages to make this work by using two 2.5” SATA hard disks, providing up to 1TB of storage. That means that this device uses laptop SATA hard drives or 2.5" Solid-State Drives (SSDs), which has some pros and cons as you could imagine. At just $149.99 plus shipping, the Thecus N0204 miniNAS also just happens to be the least expensive 2-bay network attached device sold at e-tailers like Newegg.com among others..." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Think Computers | Subject: Storage
Crucial is jumping into the SSD market with their 256GB M225 SSD. It uses the Indilinx Barefoot controller and a 64MB cache chip from Elpida along with a fairly unique dual PCB implementation to house the MLC flash chips. The testing that Think Computers performed against a similar drive, the OCZ Agility showed both drives to perform at about the same level. Indilinx based drives are among the fastest out there and Crucial's new drive has grabbed a spot among the best.
“When it comes to Solid State Drives (SSD’s), it seems like many of the offerings available are from companies known for memory, not storage. This is because unlike traditional hard drives SSD’s have no moving parts and use NAND memory chips. So you would expect a company like Crucial to have a line of SSD drives, and they do! Actually our first SSD review here at ThinkComputers was a Crucial Drive. Today we will be looking at the 256GB M225 Solid State drive that is based off the ever popular Indilinx Barefoot controller. Let’s take a look…" Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Corsair Memory | Subject: Storage
FREMONT, Calif., November 10, 2009 — Corsair, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer and flash memory products, today announced two new Flash Survivor GT USB flash drives. The new drives are available in capacities of 32GB and 64GB, and feature the same ultra-durable metal housing found on all Flash Survivor models, along with the signature red GT highlights. “The Flash Survivor GT is the ultimate flash drive for users requiring both high speed and extreme ruggedness,” said John Beekley, VP of Technical Marketing at Corsair. “These drives will carry your data and media into the harshest environment and still provide rock-solid protection.” Corsair’s ultra-durable Flash Survivor USB drives have proven extremely popular with consumers thanks to their super-strong, CNC-milled, aircraft-grade aluminum casing, which makes them practically indestructible. Each drive is also fitted with a molded, shock-dampening collar and EPDM seal, which provides water-resistance to a depth of 200 meters. In independent reviews, the Corsair Flash Survivor has suffered countless tests of strength, and always comes out on top! The 32GB and 64GB Flash Survivor GTs are available immediately from Corsair’s authorized distributors and resellers worldwide. All Corsair USB flash products are backed by a 10-year Limited Warranty. Complete customer support via telephone, email, forum and Tech Support Xpress is also available. 
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Super Talent Technology | Subject: Storage
San Jose, California - November 4, 2009 - Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced the new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 RAIDDrive, which supports transfer speeds up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 drives. The new drive, in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities, is fully backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports, but operates at slower speeds. The USB 3.0 RAIDDrive uses patented "multiple pairs of differential serial data lines technology" for optimal NAND flash performance. "This product underscores Super Talent's continued leadership in USB drives." said Super Talent COO, C.H. Lee. "We've developed the world's first mobile USB 3.0 flash drive. It delivers phenomenal performance and it incorporates our own patented technology".
Measuring 95 x 37 x13.5 mm, the SuperSpeed drive is a truly portable drive. Like most USB drives, it requires no separate cable. It plugs directly into any USB port. Although this drive will work in USB 2.0, it delivers transfer speeds up to 200MB/sec only in USB 3.0 ports. Using a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port this SuperSpeed drive can reach up to 320MB/sec transfer speeds. This product will be available in December from Super Talent resellers worldwide. Interested parties can register here for USB 3.0 product availability updates. 
Allyn Malventano | Source: Western Digital | Subject: Storage
Western Digital puts out some great hard drives, as well as the Velociraptor series of 10,000 RPM disks. What has always held them back from full adoption across the enterprise environments has been lack of support for Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). Today WD rectifies this with their first enterprise class SAS unit - the S25. From the specs and physical description it appears to be a reworked 300GB Velociraptor. We'll get you hard performance figures as soon as the huge demand from the OEM's subsides. As a side note - since SAS supports 6 Gb/s, this is technically Western Digital's first offering at that interface bandwidth milestone. Hopefully SATA 6 Gb/s are soon to follow. WD® ENTERS TRADITIONAL
WD S25 SAS Hard Drives Provide High-Reliability and Performance for Mission-critical Server and Storage Applications
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — November 3, 2009 — WD® (NYSE: WDC), known for its hard disk drive leadership in the desktop, mobile and consumer marketplaces, today announced its entry into the traditional enterprise market segment with volume production shipments of its first 10,000 RPM, 2.5-inch, small form factor, SAS interface hard drives. The WD S25 provides up to 300 GB of high-performance storage suitable for both mission-critical enterprise server and enterprise storage applications, such as high-I/O-driven applications and configurations, as well as data centers and large data arrays. “Our entry into the traditional-enterprise market continues the strategic expansion and diversification of WD’s broad market and product portfolio, and significantly increases our addressable revenue opportunity,” said The WD S25 delivers ultra-high performance with its 3 Gb/s and 6 Gb/s SAS interfaces and a sustained sequential data rate of 128 MB/sec. In addition to all the speed required to service any enterprise need, the WD S25 also provides a 1.6 M hour MTBF rating. The WD S25 is now available to select OEMs and shipments have begun to the two largest OEMs in the industry. “We are thrilled to launch a mission-critical-class hard drive to these high-end OEM customers,” said More information about WD S25 enterprise SAS hard drives may be found on the company's Web site at http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=677.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Tech Report | Subject: Storage
The Tech Report has put their hands on a piece of storage hardware, the Kanguru's e-Flash eSATA/USB thumb drive. It looks like a normal flash drive, barring a slightly longer overall length, but it hides two heads. One is the usual USB 2.0 connection but the head on the other end is new and unique. It combines the speed of eSATA with USBs ability to deliver power in a hybrid connector. You won't find too many motherboard headers that already have this plug, but that is not a problem thanks to the PCI backplate with power and SATA cables. Find out how well it worked in the full review.
"A new hybrid eSATA/USB connector nicely marries the two standards to provide external storage devices with plenty of bandwidth and adequate power. We take a look at Kanguru's hybrid e-Flash drive to see if it's a worthwhile upgrade over standard USB thumb drives." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Allyn Malventano | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Storage
Highpoint recently announced availability of their SATA3 / SATA 6Gb/s host adapters. While their introductory price seems a bit high as compared to other offerings we've recently reviewed, it is still great to see new tech catching on at full speed. Their official press release appears after the pic.
HighPoint Technologies – an industry pioneer of innovative SATA and SAS RAID host adapter manufacturing, today unleashes the Rocket 600 series - the industry’s first SATA 6Gb/s host adapter based on PCI-Express 2.0 technology. The Rocket 600 series delivers the next generation of SATA performance with robust SATA connectivity and will be available at the beginning of November 2009.
The Rocket 600 series delivers next generation of SATA 6Gb/s performance ideal for smaller storage platforms with single or dual drives. The 2nd generation PCI-Express 2.0 technology offer 500MB/s of throughput that will unleash the maximum performance for SSD drives.
The Rocket 600 series are fully industry standard AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) compliant and deliver Out-of-Box Ready driver less experience for major operating systems. The Rocket 600 series are backward compatible to PCI-Express 1.0 technology and to (SATA 3Gb/s & 1.5Gb/s) devices. They use the same cable and connectors as previous SATA generations to ease integration.
Pricing and Availability:The MSRP for the Rocket 620 Series is $69.99 and the Rocket 622 is $79.99 They will be available in November 2009. All HighPoint Rocket and RocketRAID products are available through channel distribution partners (Bell Micro, D and H, MaLabs and ASI). “Upgrade Your System to the Next Generation of SATA Performance”
Allyn Malventano | Source: Intel Press Room | Subject: Storage
I just got off of a conference call with Intel where they announced reaching a development milestone in the area of Phase Change Memory. PCM is exciting tech to me because it has the fast access times of RAM and the non-volatility of Flash memory. It has previously been very difficult to stack layers of these new type of memory cells. While laying a bunch of cells out in a flat plane is relatively easy, Intel and Numonyx have jointly announced the ability to create the various parts of the cell structure in a vertical orientation. The first example of such stacking was seen in a 64Mb (megabit) die. The memory cell structure itself is created vertically instead of horizontally, integrating the memory cell (PCM) and its required switching circuit (OTS) vertically into a Phase Change Memory and Switch (PCMS). Rough figures suggest cell size could theoretically be dropped to 5nm (compared to 34nm of current NAND Flash memory produced by Intel).
One layer of the PCMS array fully integrated with a CMOS technology. The memory cell stack, including rows and columns, is shown sandwiched between M2 and M3 (not shown).
Side note for comparison: NAND Flash is not a stackable process, which is part of the reason it is so expensive relative to other storage technologies. NAND Flash must be erased in blocks, while PCM is accessed / written at the single bit level (like RAM). Passing the vertical mark was one part of the milestone. The same new processes can be expanded to stack multiple layers on top of eachother, meaning this RAM should be able to scall very well down the road. These are exciting developments for sure! Below is their official press release. INTEL AND NUMONYX ACHIEVE RESEARCH MILESTONE
WITH STACKED, CROSS POINT PHASE CHANGE MEMORY TECHNOLOGY New Research Discovery Paves Way for Scalable, Higher Density Phase Change Memory Products
SANTA CLARA, Calif., and GENEVA – Oct. 28, 2009 – Intel Corporation and Numonyx B.V. today announced a key breakthrough in the research of phase change memory (PCM), a new non-volatile memory technology that combines many of the benefits of today’s various memory types. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated a 64Mb test chip that enables the ability to stack, or place, multiple layers of PCM arrays within a single die. These findings pave the way for building memory devices with greater capacity, lower power consumption and optimal space savings for random access non-volatile memory and storage applications.
The achievements are a result of an ongoing joint research program between Numonyx and Intel that has been focusing on the exploration of multi-layered or stacked PCM cell arrays. Intel and Numonyx researchers are now able to demonstrate a vertically integrated memory cell – called PCMS (phase change memory and switch). PCMS is comprised of one PCM element layered with a newly used Ovonic Threshold Switch (OTS) in a true cross point array. The ability to layer or stack arrays of PCMS provides the scalability to higher memory densities while maintaining the performance characteristics of PCM, a challenge that is becoming increasingly more difficult to maintain with traditional memory technologies. "We continue to develop the technology pipeline for memories in order to advance the computing platform," said Al Fazio, Intel Fellow and director, memory technology development. "We are encouraged by this research milestone and see future memory technologies, such as PCMS, as critical for extending the role of memory in computing solutions and in expanding the capabilities for performance and memory scaling." "The results are extremely promising," said Greg Atwood, senior technology fellow at Numonyx. "The results show the potential for higher density, scalable arrays and NAND-like usage models for PCM products in the future. This is important as traditional flash memory technologies face certain physical limits and reliability issues, yet demand for memory continues to rise in everything from mobile phones to data centers." Memory cells are built by stacking a storage element and a selector, with several cells creating memory arrays. Intel and Numonyx researchers were able to deploy a thin film, two-terminal OTS as the selector, matching the physical and electrical properties for PCM scaling. With the compatibility of thin-film PCMS, multiple layers of cross point memory arrays are now possible. Once integrated together and embedded in a true cross point array, layered arrays are combined with CMOS circuits for decoding, sensing and logic functions. More information about the memory cell, cross point array, experiment and results will be published in a joint paper titled "A Stackable Cross Point Phase Change Memory," and will be presented at the 2009 International Electron Devices Meeting in Baltimore, Md., on Dec. 9. The paper is co-authored by Intel and Numonyx technologists and will be presented by DerChang Kau, Intel senior principal engineer. About Intel Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com. About Numonyx Numonyx provides a full complement of integrated NOR, NAND, RAM and Phase Change non-volatile memory technologies and products to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of customers in the cellular, data and embedded markets. Numonyx is dedicated to providing high density, low power memory technologies and packaging solutions to a global base of customers. Additional information about Numonyx is available at www.numonyx.com.
Ryan Shrout | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Storage
Yesterday some news began filtering in to me that there were some potential issues with the newly released Intel X25-M firmware that updates the G2 drives to support the TRIM command as well as boosting write speeds. (You can read all about the new features and performance of the new firmware in our article here.) That news was basically confirmed today when Intel sent along a note saying they had pulled the new firmware until they could figure out the issue:
Yes, we have been contacted by users with issues with the firmware upgrade for our 34nm SSDs and we are investigating. We take all sightings and issues seriously and are working toward resolution. We have temporarily taken down the firmware link while we investigate.
Hold off on those firmware updates for just a bit... What seems to be the problem? While we aren't 100% sure yet, it appears the issues are limited to users of Windows 7 and the operating systems need to install some sort of driver after the firmware has been updated. When the user reboots after that software is in place, the drive apparently gets SMART errors and general disk read errors. Obviously this is very bad news for both consumers and Intel - we are keeping track of the reports and will post anything else once we learn it. For now, if you want to post about any issues YOU have had, there is a thread started in the Intel support forum about users with this problem.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Storage
Thanks to Intel's new firmware and SSD Toolbox application along with Windows 7's TRIM ability, those with the second generation (G2) 160GB Intel SSD can get some rather noticeable speed improvements. The bad news is that this update will not have an effect on 80GB models, nor on the 50nm generation. Those with the G2 160GB drive will have a pleasant surprise; you can see how nice a surprise in Allyn's review.
"Intel certainly impressed us with this new firmware release. Patching was easy and even worked on a laptop that had trouble with previous Intel firmware patch utilities. The SSD Toolbox app was simple and did its job in an unobtrusive manner. Intel seems to have had the user experience in mind throughout this entire process." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Allyn Malventano | Source: Intel Press Room | Subject: Storage
Back when the original Intel X25-M SSD came out, Intel hinted at the
future release of software that would let you monitor your SSD under
Windows. It took them a while, but they have now released such a tool. The press release is below, and my evaluation of the new firmware and the SSD Toolbox software can be found here, in the Storage section.
Intel® Solid-State Drive Toolbox with Intel® SSD Optimizer
Enables Users to Maximize SSD Performance over Time SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 26, 2009 – On the heels of the Microsoft* Windows* 7 introduction, Intel Corporation today announced the availability of the Intel® Solid-State Drive (SSD) Toolbox, with Intel® SSD Optimizer and firmware update, for its 34nm Intel® X25-M Mainstream SATA SSDs. The latest tools are designed to help better manage and retain the out-of-box performance of Intel SSDs. An SSD is built to replace a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with added performance, lower power consumption and higher reliability. The Intel SSD Toolbox allows users to more effectively monitor and manage the SSD’s health. The firmware upgrade and Intel SSD Optimizer use the Windows* 7 ATA Data Set Management Command (known as Trim) to help keep the Intel SSD running at continued high performance. In addition, the SSD Toolbox and Optimizer also allow the respective enhancements to work with Windows* XP and Vista* operating systems. “Fast and reliable access to data is critical for our SSD users,” said Pete Hazen, director of marketing, Intel NAND Solutions Group. “The latest firmware and toolbox upgrade for Intel 34nm SSD users provide a host of new management, information and diagnostic tools to help SSDs retain out-of-box performance. We are encouraging our 34nm customers to download the new firmware update today. Not only will Windows 7 users receive the performance enhancements of the Trim command, but so will our Windows XP and Vista users.” For 34nm X25-M 160GB owners, the firmware update also offers a performance boost to sequential write speeds by delivering up to 100MB per second, a 40 percent performance improvement over the existing firmware version. The Trim attribute of the ATA Data Set Management Command, often referred to as Trim, synchs the operating system’s view of deleted files with those that are deleted, but not erased on the drive. Trim tells the SSD which data blocks are no longer in use. This helps stabilize the performance and health of the SSD over time. The Intel SSD Toolbox provides SSD management tools and information about the drive, including comparing Self-Monitoring and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) drive attributes to manufacturer threshold. It provides basic and full diagnostics, along with recommended actions. The Toolbox also features an easy-to-use graphical user interface that will allow end users to schedule and run the Trim command independent of the operating system. The company recommends users install the firmware update and toolbox, and run the Trim function daily to ensure best performance. The firmware upgrade can be found at www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware and the Intel SSD Toolbox and Optimizer at www.intel.com/go/ssdtoolbox. Intel’s award-winning X25-M SSD began shipping on 34nm in July. The multi-level cell (MLC) Intel® X25-M Mainstream SATA SSD is aimed at laptop and desktop PCs, and available in 80 Gigabyte (GB) and 160GB versions. SSDs are data storage devices found inside computers. Because SSDs have no moving parts they offer faster performance and greater energy efficiency and durability than traditional HDDs. A draw for gamers, media creators and technology enthusiasts, SSDs have also played a key role in the emergence of ultra-thin and light notebook PCs that are becoming increasingly popular due to their design, size and longer battery life. For more information on Intel SSDs visit www.intel.com/go/ssd. Intel [NASDAQ: INTC], the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Tech Report | Subject: Storage
That extra terabyte will run you a $100 premium over the 1TB model but if you need huge amounts of low energy storage the Seagate Barracuda LP 2TB is where you will find it. Competing directly against the WD Green series of drives Seagate pulls less power at idle but more than the Green drive under load. The performance is very similar, with the depth of the command queueing creating the only differences. Drop by The Tech Report to see the two biggest drives on the market go head to head.
"Western Digital's Caviar Green line popularized power-efficient hard drives, and now Seagate has joined the party with a Barracuda LP that packs two terabytes. We take a closer look at how this 5,900-RPM 'cuda compares with its Caviar rival." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Corsair Memory | Subject: Storage
FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 13, 2009 — Corsair, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer and flash memory products, today announced a revamped Flash Voyager GT product lineup. The new product suite includes USB flash drives, with capacities of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, packaged in the Flash Voyager's trademarked ruggedized rubber housing with signature red “GT” highlights. “Users of high capacity flash drives need fast transfer speeds, as they are typically moving large amounts of data,” said Jim Carlton, VP of Marketing at Corsair. “The Voyager GT combines a highly efficient controller with high density MLC flash to provide excellent bandwidth at a very attractive price.” The new 16GB Flash Voyager GT also utilizes Corsair's proprietary water- and shock-resistant, all-rubber casing so that users can be confident that their data is secure and protected from damage. Independent reviews of Flash Voyager products have demonstrated their ruggedness, durability, and reliability. Flash Voyager drives have been laundered, baked, frozen, boiled, dropped, and even run over by a SUV! After all the punishment they received, the drives continued to work. The 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB Flash Voyager GTs are available immediately from Corsair's authorized distributors and resellers worldwide. All Corsair flash products are backed by a 10-year Limited Warranty. Complete customer support via telephone, email, forum and Tech Support Xpress is also available. 
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Think Computers | Subject: Storage
An SSD that only costs $230, on the market, as opposed to $300-ish if you can find it for sale, is a rather attractive buy, even if it is only 60GB. OCZ has used different NAND chips to bring down the price of this drive which raised the question of performance impact in the minds of those at Think Computers. Delving into the performance numbers, Think Computers had a pleasant surprise and you will as well if you read the full review.
"Lately it seems like everyone is releasing new solid state drives. Recently we reviewed the Vertex series drive from OCZ, which was one of their performance drives based on the ever popular Indilinx Barefoot controller. The thing about SSD drives is that they are still quite expensive. OCZ realizes this and has released a mainstream drive that is basically identical to the Vertex series of drives except it uses different NAND chips, they are calling it the Agility series. This change allows OCZ to aggressively price the Agility series, let's take a look." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: OCMODSHOP | Subject: Storage
Verbatim's PRO QUAD-INT 1TB DT HDD, aka the Quad-Interface eHDD is particularly versatile, with eSATA ll, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB 2.0 connections. This is perfect for a back up solution, transferring 100GB of data over a USB 2.0 interface is a long painful experience and can easy convince you to skip backing up your data. OCModShop reviews this external HDD that claims up to 3000Mb/s maximum speed over an eSATA II interface, to see what kind of speeds you will see in real usage, drop by and see.
"I don't know how many times I've needed to back up my hard drive for a reinstall of my OS and been left wanting because I didn't have any place to put all my pictures and data. I've had to rewrite several articles and reviews do to exactly such a scenario. It's a sad fact, but if you store your most valuable data on your main HDD, there's a good chance you'll lose it. My only problem with external HDD space is that even with USB 2.0, it's still slow as Hell when it comes to large file transfers. Ever had to move 50 Gig of video files over a USB connection? It's like dial-up, man. But Verbatim has stepped up to the plate and served a little more than a homerun. Try four of them." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Legit Reviews | Subject: Storage
Patriot's Torqx 128GB MLC SSD uses the familiar Indilinx Bigfoot controller and comes in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB flavours. The 128GB model is what is up for review at Legit Reviews, compared to all the other SSDs they have had a chance to test. We know that this drive will support TRIM in Windows 7 but they did not have a chance to test that particular feature. You can be guaranteed that all the other features are covered in their full review. "The Torqx performed very well and near or at the top in just about all benchmarks. That being said, benchmarks do not always equate to how the drives perform in the real world and over time. I spent some time playing around on Windows 7 installed on the drive for quite while. I did a lot of multi-tasking, simultaneous file copies and moves, and played a game or two as well. I didn't notice any problems with stuttering and the system felt very crisp and responsive with Windows booting in less than twenty seconds from completion of BIOS load..." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
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