128GB MLC Flash Disk by Samsung

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has developed a multi-level cell
(MLC) flash-based 128 Gigabyte (GB) solid state drive (SSD) that it will
produce this year in 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch versions for notebook and
desktop PCs, as well as other mobile applications. The new drive offers
a data writing speed of 70 megabytes per second (MB/s), the industry’s
highest for MLC-based SSDs.

The Samsung MLC-based SSD’s write speed of
70MB/s was achieved through the use of optimized controller technology
and highly efficient flash-management firmware technology. Adding to its
exceptional performance, Samsung’s 128GB SSD
reads data at 100MB/s.

“Our SSD can be used by the widest range of
corporate notebooks, particularly where additional storage is needed
beyond what is typical in most business applications,”
said Jim Elliott, director, flash memory marketing, Samsung
Semiconductor, Inc.

Samsung’s 128GB SSDs will be available in a
thin-standard 1.8-inch version that is five millimeters thick, to spur
the design of thinner ultra-mobile PCs, in addition to a conventional
1.8-inch version for mobile consumer applications and a 2.5-inch version
for standard-sized notebooks.

Featuring a 3.0 gigabit-per-second SATA II interface, the new 128GB SSD
uses native command queuing and spread-spectrum clocking to add to its
higher performance levels. It also features device/host-initiated power
management for an exceptionally low power consumption level of 0.5W in
active mode.

Samsung’s state-of-the-art wear-leveling
technology, combined with its advanced flash management technology,
provides high reliability for its MLC-based-SSD and a mean time between
failures (MTBF) of one million hours.

A pioneer in the development of SSDs, Samsung released a 32GB PATA SSD
in March 2006, followed by a 64GB version using the SATA I interface in
March 2007 and the first 64GB SATA II SSD in November 2007. Development
of Samsung’s 128GB MLC-based SSD is a result
of efficiencies enabled by the company’s
unique combination of NAND flash memory, firmware and controller
technology for flash management.

According to market research firm Web-Feet Research, the SSD market is
expected to reach US$570 million in 2007 and increase to US$6.6 billion
by 2010 – a compound annual growth rate of
over 120 percent.

Samsung expects to begin mass producing its 128GB SSD in the first half
of 2008.

Samsung Electronics America, Inc.