Toshiba Launches 256GB SSD Drive for Laptops & Flash Modules for Netbooks
A new 256GB solid state drive(SSD) with a 120MB max read and 70MBps write via 3.0Gbps SATA interface is been launched by Toshiba. Though it is not the fastest consumer SSD in the market is it not a bad idea to buy one.
This SSD is 2.5-inch and measures 3.0-mm thick. Laptops and Netbooks which intend to shed the 9.5-mm constraint which is presented by the standard hard disks are targeted by this new drive. These drives will be avilable in the market after December. Toshiba is also launching many Flash Modules and small SSD’s supporting 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities. MLC-based NAND is featured by all the drives that accounts for the less-than blazing SSD speed. Less blazing SSD speed shall help to keep the costs low. These drives contains MLC controller which achieves higer read and write speeds.
Samsung, too announced new 8GB, 16GB and 32GB SATA flash modules similar to Tosh. It is aimed directly at the booming netbook market whose speeds top out at 80MBps for reads and 50MBps for writes.
Outline of the new products
| Type | Product Number | Capacity | Samples | Start of Mass Production |
| 256GB SSD 2.5 †SATA |
THNS256GE8BC | 256GB | Sep, 2008 | 4Q, 2008 |
| Flash Module SATA |
THNSA08G0P4L | 8GB | Sep, 2008 | 4Q, 2008 |
| THNSA16G1P4L | 16GB | Sep, 2008 | 4Q, 2008 | |
| THNSA32G1P4L | 32GB | Sep, 2008 | 4Q, 2008 |
Product specification
256GB SSD
| Interface | Serial ATA-2 (3Gbps) |
| Voltage | 5V (2.5†type) |
| Reading speed | Maximum speed at 120MB a second (sequential mode) |
| Writing speed | Maximum speed at 70MB a second (sequential mode) |
| Temperature | 0 to 70 degrees Celsius |
Flash Module
| Interface | Serial ATA-2 (3Gbps) |
| Voltage | 5V |
| Reading speed | Maximum speed at 80MB a second (sequential mode) |
| Writing speed | Maximum speed at 50MB a second (sequential mode) |
| Temperature | 0 to 70 degrees Celsius |
