Apricorn: Velocity Solo SSD Upgrade Kit ($49)

Apricorn Co. announced its Velocity Solo SSD Upgrade Kit for desktop computers, a solution for increasing desktop PC system’s performance.

Created specifically for standard desktop systems, the Velocity Solo is an industry-standard PCIe 2.0 x1 card designed to add a 2.5" SSD via SATA III (6 Gbps) connection. The Solo also provides an additional SATA III data connection that can be used to connect to another SSD or HDD to provide expanded high-speed storage.

Priced at $49 and bundled with Apricorn’s EZ Gig Cloning Software, the Velocity Solo offers a solution for boosting desktop performance.

"With our extensive experience in notebook hard drive upgrades, it was a natural evolution to create an easy-to-use desktop upgrade kit," said Mike McCandless, VP of Sales & Marketing at Apricorn. "We were able to take an SSD upgrade a step further in the desktop environment by including the 6 Gbps SATA III interface as well. The SATA III interface maximizes the already huge advantages of SSDs in desktop systems of running a faster OS, applications, and booting, but SSDs will also improve the gaming experience."

Upgrade with two SATA III ports,
for speeds twice as fast as SATA II
If you’re going to upgrade your system to SSD, shouldn’t it be connected using the fastest connection on the market? At 6 Gbps, SATA III is twice as fast as SATA II and takes advantage of the performance of the latest model SSDs.

Connect the Velocity Solo
to any available PCIe 2.0 slot
Connect your 2.5" SSD to the Velocity Solo SATA III connector and slide into any available PCIe slot in your desktop. Once installed, download and run Apricorn’s EZ Gig cloning software, update the boot drive order in your system’s BIOS and your upgrade is complete. For additional storage use the auxiliary SATA III connector for a connection to an additional hard drive or solid state drive.

Performance and Capacity
Apricorn’s EZ Gig Cloning Software with Data Select
The Velocity Solo is bundled with Apricorn’s EZ Gig Cloning software with Data Select. Data Select provides a method to deselect data folders from the cloning process which is useful when migrating from a large capacity HDD to a smaller capacity SSD, and for creating a Boot Disk. This gives you the option to run your OS and applications from a fast, smaller SSD boot drive, while keeping your documents and media files on your original hard drive.

For Performance Applications
and Improving Gaming Performance
Running your OS and applications on an SSD provides a measurable performance increase, but the Velocity Solo is also an upgrade for improving gaming performance.

SSDs Improve Game Performance
As games become too large for their assets to be fully cached on modern graphics cards and main memory, the addition of an SSD for faster disk access during game play results in less in-game pauses and a smoother playing experience. Games are also faster to load and save when using an SSD.

Breathe New Life Into Your Old Desktop System
The Velocity Solo is also an upgrade for an older system, offering an affordable solution for increased productivity without the expense of purchasing a new desktop system.

Apricorn’s Velocity Solo is available from Apricorn’s website.

Pricing: MSRP $49.00. Includes Velocity Solo and Apricorn EZ Gig Cloning Software Download. SSD sold separately.

Warranty: One year limited

PC System Requirements

• Full width desktop system with a PCIe 2.0 slot (backwards compatible with PCIe 1.0)
• Velocity Solo compatible with SATA III and SATA II drives
• Internet access required to download cloning software