Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has unveiled a new solid-state drive (SSD) that is just one-eighth the size of its popular 2.5-inch X25-M SSD. Weighing a mere 10 grams, the new Intel SSD 310 Series drive is capable of similar performance to the ground-breaking X25-M, and requires just 75 milliwatts of power when idle--or twice that when active.

To be available in capacities of 40GB and 80GB, the 310 Series is simply the "first in a wave of SSD products" that will be introduced throughout this year, according to Tom Rampone, general manager of Intel's NAND solutions group. The former has a sustained read and write performance of 170MB/sec and 35MB/sec, while the latter 200MB/sec and 70MB/sec respectively.

While there are SSDs with higher performance figures, the killer feature of the 310 Series is its ability to support the standard Serial ATA protocol via an onboard PCI Express mini-connector. This makes it trivial for tablet or netbook manufacturers to incorporate it as part of a dual-drive system to bolster performance by up to 60 percent, while still benefiting from the ample, low-cost storage space inherent to traditional hard disk drives. 

Indeed, at least one computer maker has confirmed that it will be using the new Intel 310 Series. Tom Butler, director of ThinkPad product marketing at Lenovo says that the company will be using the 310 Series "across the ThinkPad line." This includes its use in standard single-drive laptops, as well as in dual-drive configuration for performance. The 310 Series is already shipping to computer manufacturers says Intel, so expect to start seeing it soon.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Computerworld
- check out this article at IT Pro
- check out this article at eWeek

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