Intel Launches SSD 525 mSATA Range

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Extract of an article from MaximumPC;

Intel’s first 6Gb/s mSATA offering
Intel today announced the launch of a new mSATA solid-state drive. Based on 25nm multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory, the Intel Solid-State Drive 525, as the new drive is called, is the Santa Clara-based chipmaker’s very first 6Gb/s mSATA offering.

The world was first warned about the coming of the performance SSD 525 series as early as July 2012, when VR-Zone spilled the beans on Intel’s SSD plans. As revealed back then, the SSD 525 is essentially the mSATA variant of the SSD 520. Both drives feature a SandForce SF-2281 controller and 25nm 2-bit MLC IMFT NAND. Further, the SSD 520 and the SSD 525 boast identical performance attributes: 50K/80K 4KB random reads/writes and maximum sequential read and write speeds of 550 MBps and 520 MBps, respectively.

"The Intel SSD 525 Series is Intel's latest 6 Gb/s mSATA product, which brings high performance to an ultra-portable form factor targeted for Ultrabooks and a myriad of embedded solutions," said James Slattery, product line manager for Intel Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group Client SSDs, in a press release.

"Intel SSDs reduce the risk of data loss due to shock, vibration or jarring. With these new performance thresholds available in a small form factor package, and backed by Intel quality and reliability, the Intel SSD 525 opens the door to an unlimited number of creative embedded solutions such as in-flight entertainment, mobile workstations, microservers and IP phone storage."

The Intel SSD 525 comes in 30GB, 60GB, 90GB, 120GB, 180GB and 240GB capacities, priced at $54, $104, $129, $149, $214 and $279, respectively. Intel has already begun shipping the 120GB and 180GB drives and expects the "additional capacities and volume shipments to follow this quarter."

 

Anandtech has a 240GB Intel 525 mSATA SSD review.

AnandTech - Intel SSD 525 Review (240GB)

Final Words From The Review

"Intel's SSD 525, at least in the 240GB form we reviewed today, is largely an updated, smaller form factor version of the 520 we met last year. The firmware updates Intel put in place on the 525 seem to improve performance over the 520, and the drive does boast lower idle power consumption although higher active power usage compared to its older, larger brother.

Intel did focus on improving system stability and compatibility with the 525's firmware, which could make it a better solution than competing mSATA SandForce drives, especially for those users who have been burned by SandForce before. With SandForce's 3rd generation controller due out in the second half of the year and M.2 drives due out in a similar timeframe, the 525's honeymoon period really is now. Luckily for Intel, there's a large (and growing) population of mSATA enabled systems on the market today looking for a good SSD to power them. If you're ok with the tradeoffs that come with a SandForce drive, the 525 is probably one of the best mSATA options on the market today"