Intel SSD 313 Series Launched
by Kristian Vättö on April 3, 2012 10:44 AM EST- Posted in
- Storage
- SSDs
- Intel
- Intel SSD 313
- SSD Caching
A bit over a month ago, we reported that Intel's SSD 313 would be launching soon. We don't know when exactly the launch took place but the 313 has been added to Intel's product database (ARK) and Q1'12 is listed as the launch date. The 313 is the successor of Intel's first generation caching SSD, the Intel SSD 311. We first met the 311 when Intel introduced its Smart Response Technology (see our review). Right now, only Z68 chipset supports SRT but Ivy Bridge will widen the support and bring it to more mobile and business chipsets as well.
| Comparison of Intel 311 Series and 313 Series | |||
| Series | Intel SSD 313 | Intel SSD 311 | |
| Codename | Hawley Creek | Larson Creek | |
| NAND | Intel 25nm SLC | Intel 34nm SLC | |
| Interface | SATA 3Gb/s | SATA 3Gb/s | |
| Controller | Intel PC29AS21BA0 | Intel PC29AS21BA0 | |
| Form Factors | 2.5", mSATA | 2.5", mSATA | |
| Capacities | 20GB | 24GB | 20GB |
| Sequential Read | 220MB/s | 160MB/s | 190MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 100MB/s | 115MB/s | 100MB/s |
| Random Read | 36K IOPS | 33K IOPS | 37K IOPS |
| Random Write | 3.3K IOPS | 4K IOPS | 3.3K IOPS |
| Street Price | $120 | $140 | $119.50 |
As we suspected back in February, the controller is the same as the one found inside Intel's SSD 311. This was confirmed by HWBox.gr. The 3Gbps controller dates back to 2009 when Intel X25-M G2 was released, although it's obviously running much newer firmware.
Courtesy of HWBox.gr
The picture of the PCB also reveals the NAND configuration. HWBox's unit is a 20GB model and it has five NAND devices onboard. Not surprisingly, it's Intel NAND and manufactured using the new 25nm process node. Due to the die shrink, each NAND device consists of a single 4GB die. The previous generation used two 2GB dies per NAND device. It seems most likely that the 24GB model simply has an extra NAND device onboard, giving it a capacity of 24GB.
The 313 seems to be priced identically to the 311. Price per GB is quite high at ~$6/GB, although that's fairly normal for SLC SSDs. NewEgg is already stocking the Intel SSD 313, making availability immediate.
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Insurgence - Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - link
Here is the driverIntel 310 Series 80GB mSATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
and here is a board:
Intel BOXDH61DLB3 LGA 1155 Intel H61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
And those are not the only ones out there.
Einy0 - Saturday, April 7, 2012 - link
I thought that you needed the Z68 chipset to enable SRT? Didn't Intel lock their other chipsets out of SRT?Cr0nJ0b - Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - link
Did Intel get the rights to brand the Apple logo on this or something? I just bought a 60GB for $1/GB AR...can this drive be that much better?MrX8503 - Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - link
SLC vs MLChttp://www.supertalent.com/datasheets/SLC_vs_MLC%2...
punchdrunk - Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - link
I struggle with the same question. I agree that SLC is more reliable and faster, but for a SRT cache drive I cannot see how buying the 313 makes any sense.For 140 I can get 24GB on SataII, but for 84 or less I can get a 64GB SataIII. The small size means things will be evicted from the cache compared to a 64GB drive, so I doubt that performance would be better with the 313. Plus if I am going to pay that much, I might as well buy a 120GB SSD and avoid caching altogether.
Drizzt321 - Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - link
Any news on any full size mSATA drives coming? Like maybe with the new Intel controller from a few months back? I really want to add one to my laptop (supports mSATA), but I want higher than the 80GB one from Intel that they currently offer. Ideally I'd have 120+GB so I can use the SSD for my apps, plus current photos I'm editing, and offload the rest of the photos I've already done some work on, but still need on my laptop to the 2.5" mechanical disk.MrX8503 - Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - link
There's not much room on the PCB for a high capacity mSATA drive. You'll have to make due with a full size SSD for now.Kristian Vättö - Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - link
There is a 120GB mSATA SSD from OCZ. Not SATA 6Gb/s though.mSATA hasn't gotten much air under its wings lately. There's a lot potential but so far it seems to be more limited to OEM market.
kyuu - Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - link
I'm aware of the differences between SLC and MLC, and that SLC is necessarily more expensive per GB. Even so, I don't see the value in these products at all. For whom is getting a 20GB cache drive for $120 better than getting a 120GB SSD for $120?wijer - Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - link
I thought that usually manufacturers settle on a 8-channel controller, except Intel which for a long time preferred 10-channel, so is it the first time we see an SSD with a 5-channel controller ?Is it a new trend and will it have some influence on performance in the future ?