Micron M500 950GB SSD Under $600 ($0.63/GB)

Micron Technology, Inc. introduced the M500 SSD, featuring terabyte-class capacity, new ultra-slim package designs, and increased response times at a more affordable price point.

Available to consumers, businesses, and system builders under the Crucialhttp://www.crucial.com brand, and to OEM customers under the Micron brand, it is built start-to-finish by Micron, providing the quality and reliability that a NAND flash memory and SSD manufacturer can provide.

Benefits of Advanced NAND Flash Technology
The M500 SSD utilizes Micron’s 20nm MLC NAND flash to achieve terabyte-class capacity and enable a new level of SSD price competitiveness; the 960GB Crucial M500 SSD will be initially priced under $600.

Micron’s advanced NAND flash technology also provides more storage in a small footprint. Micron packs nearly half a terabyte of storage onto an SSD module the size of a stick of gum (80mmx22mm). This new form factor, called M.2, along with the mSATA form factor, are key designs for current and next-generation ultra-thin computers, including ultrabook devices, tablets and convertible PCs.

SSD Performance
Faster than a hard drive, the M500 SSD enables fast boot-up, near instant wake from sleep, and fast application loading, creating a dynamic and engaging computing experience. The M500 SSD uses a SATA 6Gb/s controller combined with Micron’s custom firmware to deliver up to 80,000IOPS. The drive’s sequential read and write speeds reach up to 500MB/s and 400MB/s respectively for 480GB and 960GB capacities.

"The M500 SSD is a reliable storage solution featuring nearly instantaneous system response times and terabyte-class capacity-all at a competitive price point," said Glen Hawk, VP of Micron’s NAND Solutions Group. "For consumers, the Crucial M500 SSD is an easy, cost-effective solution for dramatically increasing system performance. For OEMs, we’re ultra-thin ready with the Micron M500 SSD-improved response times, lower power consumption, and trusted reliability – all in a design that’s smaller than ever before."

Next-Generation Feature Set
The M500 SSD incorporates extended features important to ultra-thin systems, such as device sleep (DEVSLP), which increases system battery life while maintaining system responsiveness. This feature enables the drive to draw less than 5 milliwatts of power while the system is in sleep mode – a 93% power improvement compared to previous-generation drives, comparing Micron 240GB M500 SSD with device sleep to Micron 256GB C400 SSD.

The M500 SSD also incorporates the following features
to provide users data is protected:

• Hardware encryption technology (TCG Opal 2.0 + IEEE 1667) designed to maintain data security in the event of device theft or loss (When combined with software applications, including Microsoft BitLocker with Windows 8 Pro/Enterprise/RT or Wave Systems’ EMBASSY Trust suite)
• Thermal management enables the drive to work with the host computer to dynamically adjust power consumption based on usage demands, helping designers face the challenges of ultra-small, thermally constrained systems
• Expanded power-loss protection and advanced error recovery techniques deliver reliability. Data integrity is protected even during unexpected power loss

Compatibility and Availability
The Crucial M500 SSD is backed by a three-year limited warranty and is compatible with both PC and Mac systems4. The 2.5-inch drive will be available in 120GB, 240GB, 480GB and 960GB capacities. The smaller M.2 and mSATA form factors will be available in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB capacities. The 2.5-inch Crucial M500 SSD is expected to be available for purchase in the first quarter of 2013 through select global channel partners or direct through Crucial. Micron will sell the M500 SSD direct to OEMs and through their distribution network. The M.2 and mSATA form factors are expected in the second quarter of 2013.