TDK Reveals SDG2A Line Of 2.5" SSDs
Can the world really handle yet another SSD manufacturer? We'll soon be finding out, as TDK Corporation has just developed a solid state drive line of its own. The SDG2A series -- a range of Serial ATA II-compatible SDDs with a maximum memory capacity of 64GB -- has just burst onto the scene, proving that the company really is capable of pushing out more than just spindle after spindle of optical media.
Initially, the compact will focus on 2.5" (notebook sized) drives, but it does plan to eventually push out smaller versions (1" and 1.8") that could be used in minuscule media players like Apple's iPod. In theory, TDK expects this line of drives to be used primarily in low-end laptops, namely netbooks. Furthermore, we could see these slipping into Blu-ray Disc recorders, GPS systems, multi-function printers and other consumer electronics that could benefit from the speed of an SSD.
TDK will be offering the drive in two flavors: one with an SLC (single level cell) NAND flash memory and the other with an MLC (multi level cell) NAND flash memory. The maximum memory capacity of the SLC model is 32GB, while the MLC model doubles it up with a 64GB ceiling. Both of them are actually manufacturer by Samsung, though they should be TDK branded once they hit store shelves. Early speed estimates put these in the lower-end of the spectrum, but considering that they'll likely be priced lower for use in netbooks, that's to be expected. Specifically, the data transfer speeds for reading and writing are 95MBps and 55MBps, respectively. We're also told that the drives support support either the 8- or 15-bit ECC for error correction, depending on the NAND flash memory used.
Finally, these units have built-in data protection that saves precious writes if power is suspended while the write is taking place. In essence, this ensures that the drive will not be corrupted if a sudden power loss occurs. The company is expected to showcase the new wares at the Embedded Systems Expo in Toyko, but there's no word on when they'll be sliding into retail.
Initially, the compact will focus on 2.5" (notebook sized) drives, but it does plan to eventually push out smaller versions (1" and 1.8") that could be used in minuscule media players like Apple's iPod. In theory, TDK expects this line of drives to be used primarily in low-end laptops, namely netbooks. Furthermore, we could see these slipping into Blu-ray Disc recorders, GPS systems, multi-function printers and other consumer electronics that could benefit from the speed of an SSD.
TDK will be offering the drive in two flavors: one with an SLC (single level cell) NAND flash memory and the other with an MLC (multi level cell) NAND flash memory. The maximum memory capacity of the SLC model is 32GB, while the MLC model doubles it up with a 64GB ceiling. Both of them are actually manufacturer by Samsung, though they should be TDK branded once they hit store shelves. Early speed estimates put these in the lower-end of the spectrum, but considering that they'll likely be priced lower for use in netbooks, that's to be expected. Specifically, the data transfer speeds for reading and writing are 95MBps and 55MBps, respectively. We're also told that the drives support support either the 8- or 15-bit ECC for error correction, depending on the NAND flash memory used.
Finally, these units have built-in data protection that saves precious writes if power is suspended while the write is taking place. In essence, this ensures that the drive will not be corrupted if a sudden power loss occurs. The company is expected to showcase the new wares at the Embedded Systems Expo in Toyko, but there's no word on when they'll be sliding into retail.
