Samsung Introduces SSDs for Low-Priced PC Market

Samsung announced Wednesday it will begin mass producing next month inexpensive low-density high-performance SSDs

Available in 8, 16, and 32 GB sizes, Samsung is looking to target low-cost PCs with these new high-performance MLC-based SSDs, which should be a welcome offering where current low-cost PCs are often limited to 8 GB SSD sizes. These new low-density SSDs will be 30-percent smaller than the size of 2.5-inch SSDs and will use the same high-performance SATA II controller technology that Samsung uses for its MLC-based 128 GB SSD. Samsung has already begun production of their current 64 GB and 128 GB MLC-based SSDs last month, which supposedly offer performance approaching that of SLC-based SSDs.

Samsung claims the new 32 GB SSD will have a sequential read speed of 90 MB/sec. and a sequential write speed of 70 MB/sec., the 16 GB SSD will have a sequential read speed of 90 MB/sec. and a sequential write speed of 45 MB/sec., while the 8 GB SSD will have a sequential read speed of 90 MB/sec. and a sequential write speed of 25 MB/sec. These new SSDs incorporate 16 gigabit MLC NAND chips, with the 8 GB model having four single-die packages, the 16 GB model having four dual-die packages, and the 32 MB model having four quad-die packages. The read speeds are helped by the inclusion of a 32 MB DRAM as a buffer and a four-channel system.

Multi-level-cell technology, as used in these new SSDs, tends to be slower than single-level-cell technology, but it is cheaper to manufacture. Samsung told us that although it does not sell directly to retail with its products, the company will be offering its customers these new SSDs at a 50-percent to 60-percent reduction price compared to that of the same capacity SLC-based SSD.