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Intel Readies New 313 Series Caching SSDs for Ivy Bridge

by - source: VR Zone

With Ivy Bridge around the corner, Intel is set to release its new 313 SSD caching series based on 25 nm SLC NAND flash memory.

Intel is set to replace its Larson Creek series (311 series) just in time for the Ivy Bridge processors with the Hawley Creek series (313 Series). The 313 series will use 25 nm SLC NAND flash memory and be designed for Ivy Bridge's new 7-series chipset, while maintaining backwards compatibility with current 6-series chipsets.
 


In addition to moving to 25 nm NAND flash from 34 nm NAND flash, Intel will now be offering two capacities of 20 GB and 24 GB with the 313 series (only 20 GB with the 311 series). We aren't exactly sure what the extra 4 GB will give you in a cache drive outside of the extra capacity, but Intel has added it for a reason, so we'll have to play the waiting game on its benefits. As with the 311 series, the drives will still utilize a SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface and will be based on either a 2.5-inch or mSATA form factors. The 2.5-inch drives will be 7 mm tall versus the 9 mm of the 311 series. This move continues the trend by most SSD manufactures to decrease the size of SSDs to allow the drives to be utilized in Ultrabooks. 

As for pricing, it looks like Intel's MSRP for the 20 GB model is around $99 dollars and the 24 GB around $119 dollars. These new drives should be available for purchase around the time-frame of the Ivy Bridge and 7-series chipsets launch.

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maximiza 02/22/2012 3:12 PM
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edvinasm 02/22/2012 3:14 PM
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-13+

Can someone explain why should this 20GB drive should be purchased for $100 when 80GB is only $20 more? Lightning fast speeds? Sexy casing?

ragenalien 02/22/2012 3:15 PM
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-8+

But I can almost get a 128 Gb drive for that??

fatalshot808 02/22/2012 3:20 PM
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I think we can all agree $1-2 per GB is a standard now for SSD. 5$ per gigabyte too much I don't see the point in paying that much for very limited storage. I understand this is a cache drive but for 20Gb you can get alot more bang for your buck.

rpmrush 02/22/2012 3:33 PM
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-11+

It's SLC NAND. It's durable and hence expensive. MLC is not durable enough for a cache drive. Constant writes would wear MLC out too quickly. SLC is ideal for cache. Yes it is expensive, yet reliable for this application.

drwho1 02/22/2012 3:35 PM
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--3+

To me this is both a waste of time making this useless POS, and a waste of money for anyone who would fall for this ****.

(go ahead thumb me down)

But to me, a better or at least decent boot drive has to be at minimum 120GB.
I would prefer mSata 120GB IF they would use their OWN controller without having to disable one SATA
controller.

mSATA disables one SATA controller which makes it a BAD choice.
(I want the flexibility to ADD more TB drives, so loosing ONE SATA controller does not make me happy at all)

classzero 02/22/2012 3:38 PM
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-1+

Until the drives are affordable, No thank you.

a4mula 02/22/2012 3:52 PM
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-8+

These are intended as use as cache drives working with Intel Smart Response Technology. You do not install anything to them. 20GB is more than sufficient for space in this role and because this is a SLC drive it's going to stand up to the wear of the cache writes. If you have no interest in SSD caching then obviously you'll look elsewhere.

warezme 02/22/2012 4:12 PM
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-5+

a4mula :
These are intended as use as cache drives working with Intel Smart Response Technology. You do not install anything to them. 20GB is more than sufficient for space in this role and because this is a SLC drive it's going to stand up to the wear of the cache writes. If you have no interest in SSD caching then obviously you'll look elsewhere.

So why not just have 24GB or more of system memory and create a cache drive off of that on boot up? It would be faster and cheaper.

Vatharian 02/22/2012 4:15 PM
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mcvf 02/22/2012 4:20 PM
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edvinasm :
Can someone explain why should this 20GB drive should be purchased for $100 when 80GB is only $20 more? Lightning fast speeds? Sexy casing?


SLC

edvinasm 02/22/2012 4:39 PM
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-2+

mcvf :
SLC



Maybe so. Still, only good for performance hungry i.e. server applications etc. As for caching better use one SSD as boot and whatever else for storage. Only a gimmick IMO for home use. I have Intel Sata3 SSD as main drive and PC boots in ~30sec. 40 if have all my office software starting. And that's on cheapo Z68 board + i3 2100.

CaedenV 02/22/2012 4:57 PM
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1) this is a cache drive, not a boot drive, so it does not need to be effective (though a 20 and 40GB option would make more sense than 20 and 24).

2) This is SLC which means it will last longer... but load balancing on a larger MLC would likely last just as long if not longer for the same price or less.

3) SATA2? Seriously? Even cheap SATA3 drives will run circles around this thing when it comes to throughput... and at a much cheaper price point.

CaedenV 02/22/2012 5:02 PM
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caedenv :
1) this is a cache drive, not a boot drive, so it does not need to be effective


lol, I think I meant "does not need to be large to be effective"... I am sure it needs to be effective in the general sense :P

edvinasm 02/22/2012 5:04 PM
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Also, knowing the HDD market prognosis for next 6 months it is hard to see what these SSDs will be accelerating :) No way I am buying 2 WD Blue for RAID or even storage anymore. SSDs and the rest just keep deleting when not needed.

Chainzsaw 02/22/2012 5:11 PM
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-1+

This is a waste, $5/GB in this day and age? Come on Intel!

I also would go against SRT - it's better to go for a full blown - ssd than having an SSD as a cache for your HDD. This way your SSD is working 100% of time time rather than when your OS/Programs get loaded after a few sessions in an SRT setup.

elbert 02/22/2012 5:28 PM
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This drive is ony SATA 2.0 with 3GB's a second. I cant see how even cherryville wouldn't destroy this in every way.

LordConrad 02/22/2012 6:01 PM
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Price is ridiculous. I would get a larger 64GB SSD and under-size the partition a bit to leave some extra room for wear-leveling.

syrious1 02/22/2012 6:07 PM
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-0+

so is SLC used in conjunction with MCL drives? what is the point of a cache drive if your other drives are SSD already?

CaedenV 02/22/2012 8:45 PM
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syrious1 :
so is SLC used in conjunction with MCL drives? what is the point of a cache drive if your other drives are SSD already?


you wouldnt as your SSD drives are likely faster than this is. this would be to cache a standard HDD

aznshinobi 02/22/2012 10:54 PM
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Hmm... I remember Crucial making a 50GB SLC Drive, if I remember correctly it was around the same price as the Intel 24GB SSD...

Anonymous 05/05/2012 4:48 AM
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To be perfectly clear

This is a solid state CACHE, not a solid state drive. As others have mentioned, this is meant to be used in conjunction with a mechanical hard disk, not an SSD. To this end, it was built with SLC, not MLC NAND. SLC NAND last 100,000 write/erase cycles, vs. 3000 for MLC. It is expensive because it is durable. The size: 20 GB is plenty for cache. SATA II speeds are fine for cache.

This is not the same as having a RAM cache, which disappears when you power off the machine. This SS cache retains information on power down. This means it can retain the boot sector and other info for lightening fast boot ups, rather than having to access the slow hard drive with which it works conjunction.

I know you still don't get it, but I thought I'd try anyway ;-)

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