SSDs - How small can you go

Filed in archive Announcement on August 17, 2008

Intel has released an even small Solid State Disk (SSD) to help satisfy our hunger, or lack of volume, for aiding the development of even smaller mini hardware devices.

Shaving 3 grams (now 8grams) from the new SSD mini-card module (Z-P230 model), Intel is posed and ready to profit from the mini-laptop market. The Z-P230 is available in 4GB and 8GB, with a 16GB module to be release in a month or so.

What makes a mini SSD:

• Standard interface - Standard 40-pin ZIF PATA (IDE) system interface or space-saving PATA (IDE) on mini-card version


• Small footprint - 38mm x 54mm x 3.2mm (ZIF version) or 30mm x 50.95 x 3.8mm (mini-card version) - one-fourth the volume of a standard 1.8" hard disk drive for smaller, more portable designs


• Lightweight - Only weighs 11 grams (ZIF) or 8g (mini-card) for lighter, more portable designs


• Low power - Extends battery life (idle 1.65mW, typical operating 314 mW)


• Fully solid-state - No moving parts, so ideal for portable designs. 600G (2ms) shock tolerance