Thursday Patriot Memory announced that its new Wildfire line of SSDs will use the SandForce SF-2200 processor to achieve sequential read and write speeds up to 500 MB/s (@ 128K blocks) via a SATA 6 Gb/s interface. However SandForce also released its own announcement that same day, officially launching the SSD processor and its slower 3 Gb/s SATA-based brother, the SF-2100.
As previously indicated, the SF-2200 enables sequential read and write speeds up to 500 MB/s. The SF-2100 processor only achieves sequential read and write speeds up to 250 MB/s. However, both processors arrive in a single-chip "DRAM-less" form factor and feature DuraClass Technology (RAISE, DuraWrite), support for advanced 30nm- and 20nm-class NAND flash from all leading flash vendors, advanced ECC engine correcting, power and performance optimization and tuning features, OPAL security with 256-bit AES encryption and automatic, line-rate double encryption with a drive-level password.
In addition to the SandForce and Patriot Memory announcements, OCZ Technology revealed that its new Vertex 3 SSD will use the new SandForce SF-2200 processor, but will "raise the bar" by achieving 550 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write transfer rates and up to 60,000 IOPS (4k random write) via a SATA 6 Gb/s interface. The SSD will arrive in 120 GB and 240 GB capacities, and feature both TRIM support and a 3-year warranty. To see our hands-on impressions of the drive, check out Andrew's review right here.
In related news, OCZ also announced on Thursday the Vertex 3 Pro SSD which will rely on the SandForce SF-2500 processor. This version will be geared to business consumers seeking enterprise-grade MLC (Multi-Level Cell) SSD storage for their server farms and IT infrastructures. This Pro edition will arrive in three flavors: 100 GB, 200 GB, and 400 GB models.
The Vertex 3 and Vertex 3 Pro will ship after next week's International CeBIT tradeshow in Hanover, Germany. Patriot's Wildfire line of SSDs are expected to arrive sometime in Q2 2011.
