Intel X25-V Value SATA Solid-State Drive
With the new V-series, Intel will offer the consumer an affordable SSD, which should pave the way for the solid-state market for those with smaller budgets. Whether the new X25-V SSD from Intel can convince in performance. Now introducing 40 GB Intel X25-V High-Performance Value Solid-State Drive. Intel Value Solid-State Drives (Intel SSDs) represent advancement in storage technology that is specially engineered to deliver robust performance for cost effective solutions. Intel X25-V SSD was created to take on the most demanding applications your netbook or notebook PC has to offer, at a significant value for solid-state computing. It also provides a high-performance reliable boot drive for desktop and embedded applications.
Intel X25-V 40 GB is based on NAND-memory, produced in accordance with 34-nm process technology. This memory is a nonvolatile storage of information, which retains data even without power. The introduction of Windows 7 along with TRIM command ensured that their high performance solid state drives can keep permanently - more on that later. But there is still a fundamental problem: the price. Even as Intel's X25 models cheep-V still cost so much that you can alternatively buy a hard drive with 2TB of storage space. We get so 50 times more memory for the same price. Intel is proposing, therefore, proposes a compromise: The Solid State Drive only the operating system and some applications and games are stored, the data are however still on a conventional hard drive. The flash memory can be kept small and the meager 40 GB of X25-V are sufficient.
The Intel SSD X25-V is available only as a 40GB-sized version. Proclaimed by Intel should read rates at 170MB / s. and the writing speed, 35MB / s. Who the retail version of the SSD X25-V for sale, acquires the finds included next to a 3.5 inch mounting frame for mounting the necessary screws and a mini-CD on this installation manual and an Intel sticker. As controller of Intel PC29AS21BA is used, which even at Intel's mainstream SSD, the X25-M is used. Therefore, is the reading performance of entry-level SSD X25-V also at a similar level as that of the X25-M SSD. In terms of write performance, the X25-V model, however, trimmed (Since the built-in 10-channel Intel controller only five MLC memory chips, drives and not, as with the X25-M model, the eight) and achieves much lower values than the mainstream derivative of their own house.
The Intel SSDs are among the best in the market. Until recently, two lines were available, X25-M with MLC chips, and X25-E with SLC chips. But recently, Intel has launched an X25-V, for Value. Intel wants to offer primarily the V-X25 SSD SSD, which the price structure of some rounds down and offers the customer the option of also relatively inexpensive to get into the SSD market. The performance, especially in terms of reading rate, here is more than adequate and is definitely a significant improvement over conventional hard drives. The write rate is very low. Here are some models of competition, which offer much higher transfer rates in terms of write performance than the Intel X25-V. Intel, however, points to the volume size of 40GB, whereas the others should equip their SSDs in similar price range with a maximum of 32GB. Kingston is an exception, its SSD Now the series is to have a decent size of 64GB and transfer rates and is therefore clearly a strong competitor to Intel's new X25-V SSD.
On the other hand, the bandwidth of the controller has been halved to five channels and cut radically, the space of 40 GB. Only Spartan contemporaries will make do with so little memory and the write performance of the X25-V turns out to be very modest. Intel is aware of these deficiencies and therefore advocated the use of parallel to a conventional hard drive. The Solid State Drive serves as a starting point for the operating system, applications and games, because this means it can play its high read rate and the low access time. Alternatively, the possible use in netbooks.
Specification & Features:
Storage of 40GB, capable of operating up to 170 MB / sec read and 40 MB / sec write. The Intel SSDs are among the best in the market. Until recently, two lines were available, X25-M with MLC chips, and X25-E with SLC chips. But recently, Intel has launched an X25-V, Value. A SSD is therefore more affordable but has a limited storage space, only 40 GB SSD behaves how it does against other small. However, not all that glitters is gold. A look at the data can be quickly raises the question whether the X25-V can be applied in practices what has been promised in the name of Intel SSD business: high performance at a reasonable price.
SSD, or Solid State Drive, is a disc composed entirely of flash memory, memory that you find in USB keys or cards for digital cameras :
- This technology has four advantages over traditional hard disk:
- Incredibly fast, with very short access time.
- Reduced power consumption.
- Absolute silence, even in business.
- Probability of failure much lower, due to the lack of mechanical parts in movement.
In this configuration, the Intel SSD X25-V is added to a desktop PC comes complete with HDD, and you can load the operating system and applications you use most frequently to take advantage of higher performance, about 4 times faster compared to a hard drive 7200 rpm, while continuing to use the hard drive as storage space for larger capacity for data. The SSDs in this configuration is typically referred to the boot drive, as speeds time to boot.
You could, for example, load the 40 GB SSD is used as a boot the operating system Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Office applications and their favorite games like Dragon Age: Origins, and take advantage of overall system performance to 43% faster or gaming experience up to 86% improved. The SSD also speeds up operations as the 'boot time, opening applications, files, or resume from standby. X25-V supports Microsoft Windows 7 Trim by Intel SSD Optimizer. In addition, offers a package of Intel SSD Toolbox, designed to provide users with tools to service the SSD and maintain their peak performance during the operational period. These features are also available to computer users with Windows XP and Vista. Download the package from the manufacturer's website .
Re: Intel X25-V Value SATA Solid-State Drive
Interface
Its interface is SATA and SATA compatibility is 2.6. This indicates that the maximum transfer rate of SATA is 2, 3Gbps, but has some progress to be permanently integrated into SATA 3 and SATA 6Gbps. Is fed as either a SATA hard disk and its shape is designed to operate only under load 5v consuming less than 150mW. This means that we can be mounted in any format outside of this box without much problem in terms of consumption. Intel sells this album in two formats, OEM and Retail, the latter being the one who should get to the end user decides to extend his personal computer. This format includes a CD with some utilities, of which we will talk, and also an adapter to mount 3.5 "bay that are common in desktop computer boxes. This adapter is not just a metal mold that is not compatible disk backplane systems as the power and data connectors are not exactly up to where they should be on a hard disk 3.5 ".
We have said that this album offers durability and safety but it is important to know that Intel offers data after lab tests. This disc is certified for a minimum life of 5 years (calculated on the basis of a movement of data from about 20GB per day), with a total of 50000 cycles on / off the unit and plug can physically remove some 250 times on average before being damaged. I'd go with the five-year life span and 3-year warranty that covers us as long as Intel Officer in the case of a Retail Unit.
The problem with SSDs is that they are no longer drives with flash memory and therefore each time you want to write to a memory cell that must be cleared before writing. If no data in the cell, the writing is straightforward, if there is data, regardless of their state before such information should be deleted to record new in it. This makes the discs are not prepared with certain mechanisms suffer from a progressive lost of performance as they remain employed.
Modern hard drives, with the help of modern operating systems like Windows 7, introduced automation improvements and proper maintenance of the disc. One mechanism is known as TRIM, OCZ was the first to implement it, but now even inexpensive disks as the X25-V as fitted as standard. TRIM allows the operating system to tell the SSD hard disk controller that memory blocks are no longer in use and are therefore available for reuse. This allows the disk controller and its embedded software to phase the data from these blocks when, for example, the disk is at rest. With this measure the disk itself will maintain their blocks clean and ready for direct use while maintaining the performance of the disc intact over time.
Another very useful device, especially for those who do not have the PC on all day, is scheduled or manual cleaning force. These profits are known as garbage collectors and allow a manual mode and delete these unused blocks. Such utilities are useful if you do not use an operating system like Windows 7 and can also be used in combination with TRIM.
Performance
Further cost savings could Intel, by adding a portion of the write performance was sacrificed. While the Controller of the more expensive series X25-M drives ten channels, the value must be content with five-variant channels. Since it is primarily a boot drive advanced high read performance, it is to get over. Both variants, i.e. X25-M and X25-V are based on 34 nm MLC NAND flash memory (multi-level cell) that can store multiple bits per cell. This enables a higher density and also saves material and cost.
MLC chips while allowing high read rates, Intel promises at least 170 MB / s (X25-M: 250 MB / s), but while writing this architecture, the force from the solid state drive. Together with the trimmed down to five channels, this gives a write power controller of lean 35 MB / s, i.e. half as much as the 80GB version of the X25-M reached. As an interface, Intel SATA 3 GB / s with NCQ (Native Command Queuing) are selected and the normal life expectancy (Mean Time before Failure) of the drive is specified at 1.2 million hours.
According to Intel, the X25-V as a 40 GB system disk for desktop PCs as well as low-cost SSD solution for net books is intended. We have taken the latter to the heart and the drive in our ASUS Eee PC 1000 installed. Even the low-power Intel Atom N280 can benefit from a solid state drive and the startup time of Windows XP Home has been reduced by more than nine seconds and one third. Also, large programs like OpenOffice now load much faster and write accesses are at least no significant inconvenience to recognize. When it comes to power consumption, the Solid State Drives are a clear advantage. However, one must not be forgotten that our comparison disk Seagate ST31000528AS also 7.8 - provides up to 25 times more storage space and also much less cost.
The Intel X25-V unit includes 40 GB of NAND flash memory to 34 nm. This non-volatile memory retains data even without power, and is used in applications such as smart phones, portable music players, memory cards and SSDs for fast and reliable data storage. The advantages of SSDs over traditional hard drives include higher performance, saving battery life and greater strength.
TRIM Command
What is now with the TRIM command about? As many readers will know, when you delete data are not really deleted, it will only remove the pointer of the file system. This approach ensures hard drive for better performance and lower power consumption, for it will write access saved. But with flash memory is very different from letter deletion and costs little time. In addition, there is another logic level called wear leveling. The wear leveling to ensure even wear of the memory cells, since flash cells cannot be infinitely often override.
However, if only the pointer of the file system was removed, the flash cell is erased for the file system and the firmware of the Solid State Drives, the data are available. Gradually, the flash memory filled with ghost data, resulting in poor performance and not at all optimal wear leveling with the result. There must be therefore a balance between the file system and the firmware. In Windows 7 will do this the TRIM command in real time as you perform a cleanup on Vista and XP needs a little reminiscent of the Defragment your hard drive. Prerequisite for using the "SSD Optimizer" is like saying a chipset from Intel.
And where we are on this subject: The use of a defragmentation tool is at Solid State Drives not only useless but even harmful. Unlike hard drives, where the head be always in position must be, it does for the performance of flash memory no matter where that information was stored. Defragmenting but provides for an additional wear and tear, be postponed because the stored data and then rewritten. In addition, the unit supports Microsoft's Windows 7 Trim by Intel SSD Optimizer. Also included is the Intel SSD Toolbox, a set of utilities developed by Intel to enable you to more effectively manage and preserve the default performance of Intel SSDs.
Re: Intel X25-V Value SATA Solid-State Drive
SSD Encryption
Its speed reaches sustained 170MB / s read, which is a very interesting medium speed for disks that we have today, and a more moderate 35MB / s in write mode. It's an album specifically designed for writing small files where the most important thing is not speed but sustained ultrafast response times. It is ideal for what is described which is mounted the operating system and other files and programs on a conventional hard drive.
Another that offers an SSD is safety. No type safety to prevent the degradation of our operating system, but do not require defragmentation, but rather to suffer a mechanical failure or receives a shock or vibration in its use has to be causing a progressive failure. NAND memory of these discs has a useful half-life of 1,200,000 hours, which translates into 136 years of continuous use 24 hours a day. This type of security is what allows us, for example, mounting a hard drive on the side of a box without screws as we in our Antec Skeleton, this type of security allows us to have external drives more reliable mobile where we can bring our system or operational data.
Package
Supplied with a brief description, a software CD, a mounting frame for 3.5-inch bays, and the appropriate screws are included. The frame is really handy, because only a few cases offer bays for 2.5-inch devices. With the help of the background is the Solid State Drive in a standard hard drive bay his home. With Onyx and X25-V, Intel and OCZ are trying to start the user in the world of consumer SSD, from disks used as boot devices. No doubt it is the right way for the deployment of SSDs, which have not yet attacked the consumer sector because of high prices. You can make a direct comparison with the model X25-M 80 GB. X25-M has a range greater than the x25-V, this is not a mystery. In fact it has a controller that only works on 5 channels compared to 10 in Intel x25-M. This leads to a lowering of transfer times in both reading and writing.
Drive Intel X25-V full 40 GB SATA SSD Product Line Intel X25-M Mainstream high-performance offering capacity from 80 GB to 160 GB. All Intel SSDs are designed and manufactured by Intel's NAND flash memory, IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) and include a proprietary controller and firmware upgradeable. The X25-V is priced at U.S. $ 125 in 1,000 unit quantities and is available for deployment worldwide.
Supported Downloads
Download the Intel SSD Toolbox with Intel SSD Optimizer for a set of applications to easily manage the health and optimize the performance of your Intel SSD. The Intel SSD Toolbox includes a powerful set of management, information and diagnostic tools, and is designed to work best with 34nm Intel SSDs. The Intel SSD Optimizer utilizes the new ATA Data Set Management Command (Trim Attribute) to help maintain your SSDs performance at fresh-out-of-the-box levels, and is specifically designed to run with Microsoft Windows 7. The Intel SSD Optimizer also works with Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems as well. The Intel Value SATA Solid-State Drive is available in 2.5¨standard hard drive form factor. And the Intel Value SSDs are tested and validated on the latest Intel-based mobile and desktop platforms for your peace of mind.
As a system drive Intel X25-V SSD can be installed in addition to the existing hard disk. Then you can install the operating system and the most frequently used applications. Reached approximately 4 times higher download speed compared to the hard drive with a speed of 7200 rpm. The presence of a traditional drive system means that the user still has the necessary amount of memory to store files. With the ability to reduce download time, SSD is often used as system disks.
Intel Software
TRIM supports Intel in this generation of drives. This model, the cheapest, not less, and supports this technology so it has nothing to envy the more expensive models and higher capacity except in the sustained speeds. If Intel has managed to ease their support for these technologies and the application of techniques of hard disk maintenance. They have created the "SSD Toolbox" which includes the SSD Optimizer. Behind these striking names are what we discussed earlier. An application that allows us to easily identify our SSD installed and performs maintenance tasks in a very visual and easy for the user.
If you use Windows 7, which would make sense especially if we are to choose one of these discs, this application allows us to perform maintenance of full garbage collection schedule. Intel recommends fun every week, only takes a few seconds if we took a day and also the application program allows the task to run in the period we see fit without any need for intervention by the user.
Conclusion
The problems of solid state drives have been solved over the last few months a large extent. In particular, Windows 7 and the TRIM command provided for relief, because the power of the flash-based disks will be preserved permanently. Intel puts its "SSD Optimizer" for even a TRIM alternative for Windows Vista and XP, a clear added value for those who are not yet migrated to Windows 7 and used the motherboard has a chipset from Intel. That leaves the high price and low storage capacity compared to conventional hard drives. Intel has taken at least the question of costs in attack and X25-M is transformed by a strict diet in an X25-V. The new disc also offers a high read rate and shines like its more expensive sister model with extremely low access times.
The actual application of the V-X25 SSD from Intel may well be more to a clean system disk, a disk that is home to the only operating system. In the case of a system drive to include all first-read rates and access time and in these two categories depends on the SSD, even if it is not technically located high in the high-end sector, a normal HDD loose from. In view of strong competition, the currently quoted price and the low write power can forgive the editors Technic3D to Intel for their SSD X25-V no top award.
A 40GB SSD as a boot disk is not a bad thing, because the boot of the computer is likely to be accelerated. However, the small and cheap disks have also another disadvantage. For while the read speed of 170 MByte / s is fine, the speed is the write operation at only 30 MB / s. Fumbles the operating system that is in the paging file around, brings an SSD is not too much. The performance advantage is reduced then again, because the SSD cannot even describe infinitely often.
