Intel Introduces 120GB SSD and Trims Prices

Intel is busy working on its upcoming “G3” third generation SSDs, but that doesn’t mean it’s sitting still until then. In addition to lowering suggested retail prices to be more in line with current market prices, Intel has confirmed that a recently spotted 120GB model SSD will be introduced in the US to fill the price/capacity gap between its current 80GB and 160GB solid-state drives. 120GB size drives tend to be the sweet spot for price-per-GB for SSD’s, and also happen to be of sufficient capacity to handle both an OS and a full range of programs.

Intel’s venerable “G2” model SSDs may not offer the write speeds of newer controllers such as the SandForce SF-1200 and Crucial C300 solid-state drives, but they do offer a proven track record from one of the largest industry giants and deliver on read performance.

The 80GB model officially falls to $199 from $225, while the new 120GB model slots in at $250. The 160GB “G2” will drop from $440 to $415. This doesn’t sound like much, but street prices have traditionally undercut the suggested retail prices so we can expect e-tailer prices to trend slightly lower. Newegg is already listing Intel’s new 120GB model at $240 before shipping. If that still sounds expensive to you, it doesn’t hurt too much to remember Intel’s first 160GB “G1” solid-state drive débuted at an eye-watering $945 at the very start of 2009.

“Every Christmas, consumers are looking for the latest tech gadget; this year, with prices dropping, the solid-state drive is becoming more mainstream and can make the single greatest improvement to PC performance,” said Troy Winslow, director of product marketing for the Intel NAND Solutions Group. “With an SSD, tech shoppers can give the gift of a technology makeover that will help speed up, or breathe new life, into a current PC by just swapping out the hard drive for an SSD.”