OCZ Sporting USB 3.0 External SSD at CES

Various reports indicate that OCZ plans to showcase a line of external SSDs during CES 2010 that will utilize the new USB 3.0 technology. This means that the SSDs--despite their external properties--could reach up to 4.8 Gb/s, although they're more likely to remain at 1.6 Gb/s in most situations. So far there isn't anything concrete in regards to hardware specs that we can chew on.

Currently the company is only providing conceptual art and will provide prototypes for the show. If the renders stay true to the product's design, the SSDs will provide a microUSB connector and feature eight memory modules. PC Perspective actually stumbled across the new SSD on OCZ's forum: the company is looking for input on the perfect name for the SSDs.

This new, unnamed line of SSDs follows the company's recent expansion of the 3.5-inch Colossus series. OCZ also recently announced drives based on controllers manufactured by startup company SandForce; these will support up to 260 Mb/s sequential read and write speeds.

Expect more information to appear in the following weeks. Then again, OCZ may wait until a day or so before the CES event to offer anything official. CES will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada during January 7-10, 2010. Until then, we'll be chomping at the bit for this tasty external solution.

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  • Onyx2291
    I'm not sure how fast USB 3.0 is since I haven't looked that much into it, but would can it really make use of the speed of the SSD? As my external hard drives right now only go at 10-17 mb/s.
    Reply
  • mr trasistor
    as for a name for the device - the OCZ Medium
    just a thought
    Reply
  • wira020
    Onyx2291I'm not sure how fast USB 3.0 is since I haven't looked that much into it, but would can it really make use of the speed of the SSD? As my external hard drives right now only go at 10-17 mb/s.
    USB3.0 is supposed to be 10x the speed of USB2.0 theoretically... and no, it's not really a good idea to me actually... given the cost/storage size of current ssd lines.. i'd say we're better just stick with thumbdrives as it is cheaper and growing in sizes... and if speed matters, a normal HDD would also benefit from the USB3.0 connector as USB2.0 was the main limiting factor...

    simply put, i think this is just one of things that makes other people feel better of themselves feeding off other's envy....
    Reply
  • acecombat
    Onyx2291As my external hard drives right now only go at 10-17 mb/s.That might be your drive...I have an external drive and it copies at about 30-40mb/s
    Reply
  • krazyderek
    i still say 3.5" SSD are a waste of time, there is zero economy in SSD right now so all you're doing is producing something that's isn't as usefull as a 2.5" SDD in terms of notebook and desktop swappable boot drives.
    Reply
  • anamaniac
    krazydereki still say 3.5" SSD are a waste of time, there is zero economy in SSD right now so all you're doing is producing something that's isn't as usefull as a 2.5" SDD in terms of notebook and desktop swappable boot drives.Really?
    I want a 80GB X18-m, and yes, I'd likely put it in my desktop. Though it'd soon enough go into a laptop...
    These big drives are expensive...
    I think either a 64GB flash drive or a 80GB 1.8" SDD would do it for me.
    Reply
  • tester24
    I would say that USB 3 is worth it over USB 2. It definetly needed to be replaced sooner than it has been. However at least eSATA has gotten more popular so at least I am not stuck at running my external drives at slower speeds. Annoying when you are trying to do backups.
    Reply
  • Well USB 3.0...Well all of us been using usb 2.0...so releasing usb 3.0 is better...and most of us will take it for granted...yes we'll complain now...but as soon as it hit the shelves...everybody will just be using it...and nobody we'll complain...until they release usb 4.0...XD
    Reply