Intel roadmaps hi-speed SSDs

Intel is preparing solid-state drives with sustained read and write speeds of 240MB/s and 70MB/s, respectively.

The gen comes from what's claimed to be a leaked roadmap slide that was subsequently posted by website Expreview.

Intel's SSD scheme calls for the release of the laptop-friendly 2.5in X25-M in Q3 alongside a 1.8in version, the X18-M. Both will be made available in 80GB capacities. In Q4, Intel will offer a 160GB X25-M, but the comparable capacity X18-M won't debut until Q1 2009.

The two drives are said to consume no more than a quarter of a Watt when they're active, with their power consumption dropping to 0.06W when they're idle.

In Q4, Intel will also introduce the enterprise-oriented X25-E in 32GB and 64GB capacities but with a write speed of 170MB/s. The roadmap quote 4Kb read and write IOPS scores of 35,000 and 3,300, respectively.

Intel's SSD specs match those of the latest solid-state drives from its Flash memory partner, Micron. The memory specialist announed the P200 and C200, a couple of weeks ago, though they won't be shipping in volume until Q4.