First – Non Embedded – SSD From WD, for Notebooks and PCs
2.5-inch, MLC, SATA, 256GB, 170MB/s write, 250MB/s read ($999)
This is a Press Release edited by StorageNewsletter.com on March 4, 2010 at 3:11 pmWestern Digital Corp. is shipping its first consumer-oriented solid state drive (SSD) with the new WD SiliconEdge 2.5-inch SSD family. WD SiliconEdge Blue SSDs offer fast read/write speeds and high SSD capacities, making them an ideal storage solution for read-intensive applications requiring high performance and plug-and-play compatibility.
WD SiliconEdge Blue SSDs, in capacities up to 256 gigabytes (GB), feature a native SATA 3.0 gigabits per second (Gb/s) interface with read speeds up to 250 megabytes per second (MB/s) and write transfer rates up to 170 MB/s. Fast and rugged, WD SiliconEdge Blue SSDs accelerate application performance and deliver maximum tolerance for drops, shock and vibration along with silent and low-power operation.
"The development of the WD SiliconEdge Blue product family leverages WD’s extensive experience in designing and manufacturing highly reliable storage products and the company’s worldwide sales and distribution network to accelerate SSD technology adoption by OEMs, technology enthusiasts, gamers and road warriors," said Michael Hajeck, senior vice president and general manager of WD’s solid state storage business unit. "Customers who demand the ultimate in performance will find the WD SiliconEdge Blue SSDs exceed all their requirements."
The new WD SiliconEdge Blue product family has passed WD’s extensive functional integrity testing procedures, which subjected the WD SiliconEdge Blue SSDs to over 250,000 hours of testing to ensure they meet the industry’s highest data integrity, reliability and compatibility standards. Designed for both read-intensive client/consumer applications and write-intensive, 24/7 OEM applications, WD’s new multi-level cell (MLC) -based SSDs feature patented and patent-pending technologies, such as advanced wear-leveling and error correction control, as well as TRIM and NCQ (Native Command Queuing) command support to ensure maximum drive performance and endurance with easy plug and play compatibility.
Price and Availability
WD SiliconEdge Blue SSDs are available through select distributors and resellers. The manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) for WD SiliconEdge Blue SSD 64 GB (model SSC-D0064SC-2100) capacity is $279.00, the 128 GB (model SSC-D0128SC-2100) capacity is $529.00 and the 256 GB (SSC-D0256SC-2100) capacity is $999.00 USD. The WD SiliconEdge Blue drive is backed by WD’s world-class technical support and comes with a three-year limited warranty.
Comments
If you compare the two competitors, each one has its own identity.
Seagate is number one in enterprise HDDs and WD not far to surpass its rival in desktop devices and leader in notebook
drives. The first SSD announced by Seagate was introduced last December
as an enterprise device. Here WD has chosen to enter for the first time
in non-embedded SSDs with a unit aimed at desktop and notebook
computers.
The specs are not so different: same form factor (2.5-inch), same
interface (3Gb SATA), up to 250MB/s and 240MB/s in read, 170MB/s and
200MB/s in write, respectively for WD and Seagate. The main difference
is the use of MLC by WD and SLC for Seagate, meaning for this latter a
higher reliability but also a higher price.
For both products, the specs are good but not really exciting compared
to the other competitors. Once more remember that Micron Technology
already announces its RealSSD C300 SSD in the same form factor with up
to 256GB, 6Gb SATA and read/write up to 355-215MB/s.
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