Intel to use Centrino 2 ('Montevina') to push solid-state drives

Summary: According to unnamed sources talking to DigiTimes Intel will use the Centrino 2 platform (code-named 'Montevina') to push solid-state drives (SSDs) into mainstream products.

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for Hardware 2.0 | May 23, 2008 -- 08:49 GMT (01:49 PDT)

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According to unnamed sources talking to DigiTimes, Intel will use the Centrino 2 platform (code-named 'Montevina') to push solid-state drives (SSDs) into mainstream products.

Initial shipments of Intel High Performance SSDs will come in two versions – Client X25-M and Client X18-M – the former having a physical size of 2.5-inch and later 1.8-inch. Both will feature 80GB capacity and a SATA interface.

Intel plans to increase storage capacities up to 160GB by the end of the fourth quarter, and to 250GB and above in 2009, the sources added.

Quite how far Intel will push SSDs, and at what price point still remains to be seen. As the technology currently stands there are two big stumbling blocks with SSDs:

First is price. No one wants to go back to paying exorbitant prices per GB for storage any more.
Secondly, the technology lacks any real advantages over existing hard drive technology. Sure, you can give an SSD a much harsher kicking than you can an ordinary hard drive, but as the MacBook Air has demonstrated, SSDs don't give you instant bootup (in fact, they aren't all that fast at all), and they don't give you greater battery life.

I like SSDs in principal, and over time the technology will mature and improve. Intel putting its weight behind it can only be a good thing in the long run.

Thoughts?

Topics: Intel, Hardware, Processors, Storage

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2 comments

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You're assuming all SSD's are created equal

Cost is an issue for sure but come on, price per gigabyte is your metric versus rotating media? Parity or even close to parity will never happen in your life time. SSD's above 32GB is more than enough for most people now and for the next several years.

The other flawed assumption is that all SSD's are created equal. Your assessment that SSD's equate to
HDD's in performance is a year old. Things have dramatically improved in favor of SSD bandwidth to yield exceptional boot and out of hibernation response. This is huge for instant on improvements.

When you add that commonly used applications are pinned to the SSD drive, this will further boost performance dramatically and the value of SSD's way beyond cost per gigabyte.