Owners of multiple SSDs will be familiar with this dilemma: do you opt for RAID 0 to put all those precious GBs to use, or do you go for AHCI mode in order to gain TRIM support and maintain performance over time? Well, the next release of Intel’s RST should support TRIM for RAID 0, so switching to solid state storage will become an even smarter decision than it is right now.

[Thanks, Brian]

TRIM or RAID 0? SSD owners will no longer have to choose originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking for a peppy SSD to turbo charge your workflow and don’t need a whole lot of storage capacity? Back in June, Other World Computing introduced its speedy SandForce-endowed Mercury Electra 6G SSDs with a base model priced at 0 for 120GB. Now the company’s added a cheaper option to keep things fast and your wallet happy. Those wanting a taste of its 556MB/s read and 523MB/s write speeds can now opt for a 60GB variation, priced at just 0. Sure, it may not be ideal for saving your entire Queen back catalog, but it could be a nifty route for faster boot-up and load times, right? It’s available now from OWC. Zip past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD lineup updated with smaller 60GB option for 0

OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD lineup updated with smaller 60GB option for 0 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For most of us, the decision to move to flash-based storage has been one wrought with compromise: suffer through a year of ramen to afford a capacious SSD, or splurge on steak and settle for a cramped one. While we await our platterless future, Samsung keeps on chuggin’, having just begun volume production of a speedier line of solid state drives it calls the PM830. Available in 128, 256 or 512GB flavors, they tout 20nm-class MLC NAND flash and SATA 6Gb/s support — which equates to 500MB/s reads and 350MB/s writes, or almost double last year’s model. Before you reach for the plastic, know that the line is available only to OEMs — you know, computer manufacturers — with the firm promising consumer-friendly goodies for all you DIY types soon. Of course, no word on when that’ll be or how much they’ll cost, but at least the PR after the break’s free, right?

Continue reading Samsung’s speedy 6Gbps SSDs shreds bits, blows minds

Samsung’s speedy 6Gbps SSDs shreds bits, blows minds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You may recall Intel’s 710 “Lyndonville” and 720 “Ramsdale” enterprise SSDs outted by a leaked roadmap back in April, but details were as thin as high mountain air. Luckily, German site Computer Base has obtained what appears to be a full spec sheet for the aforementioned drives. Starting with the 710, this 25nm HET MLC — a more durable variant of MLC — device will come in 100GB, 200GB, and 300GB flavors, and it claims to have read and write speeds at up to 270 MB/s and 210 MB/s, respectively, along with a 3Gbps SATA connection.

Things are a bit wild with the 720: not only does it have 34nm SLC chips making up the 200GB and 400GB versions, but it also boasts some truly insane read and write speeds of up to 2200 MB/s and 1800 MB/s, respectively. Yes, 2200 MB/s and 1800 MB/s, garnished by the fast 4K IOPs as well. We had our doubts initially, but looking at the 6Gbps PCIe interface and the much higher power draw, we think there’s a good chance for this to come into reality. Well, only time will tell if these numbers will stick around for the Q3 launch this year — not that our wallets will want to know, mind you. Hit the source link for the full lowdown.

Intel’s 710 ‘Lyndonville’ and 720 ‘Ramsdale’ SSDs see full spec leak well ahead of release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solid-state storage aficionados are well-versed in the virtues of SandForce controllers, and Corsair’s new Force Series 3 drives pack a fresh version of the technology. Like the firm’s Force GT, Series 3 delivers data using SATA III 6Gbps connections, but uses a newfangled SandForce SF-2281 controller to shoot your info to and fro at up to 550 MBps read and 520 MBps write speeds. The SSDs also perform 85,000 IOPS, which makes the 60,000 IOPS from similarly-priced offerings from OCZ look downright dilatory in comparison. Prices are 9 for 60GB, 9 for 120GB, and 9 for the 240GB version, so they still aren’t cheap, but it’s a small price to pay to dodge the dangers of disk-based storage.

Continue reading Corsair Force Series 3 SSDs: SandForce speed for modest money

Corsair Force Series 3 SSDs: SandForce speed for modest money originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 20:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OCZ releases Vertex 2 Pro SSDs for business
Enterprise class solid state drives use SandForce controller, SATA II interface OCZ Technology Group released two new versions of its data center-class 2.5-in. solid state drive (SSD) series today. Based on either multi-level cell or higher-end single-level cell NAND flash memory, Vertex 2 Pro and the Vertex 2 EX series both use the latest SandForce SF-1500 SSD processors, OCZ said.
Read more on TechWorld

New Technology to Reduce Commercial Vehicle Deaths on Interstates
Virginia’s state-of-the-art truck weigh program was featured during the Virginia Motor Carrier Partnership Showcase Wednesday at the Stephens City Motor Carrier Service Center on Interstate 81.
Read more on WHSV Harrisonburg

Swiss scientist Michael Graetzel wins €800,000 technology prize for cheap solar cells
Michael Graetzel of Switzerland has won the €800,000 (0,000) international Millennium Technology Prize for inventing low-cost solar cells used in renewable energy, organizers said Wednesday.
Read more on Times & Transcript