Rumored Intel SSD 700 Series Specifications Leaked

If you ask most tech enthusiasts, they will credit Intel with starting the SSD trend as we know it. Which if true, may be why it would surprise some to learn that the original X25-E Intel launched way back in 2008 has never seen a refresh or product update. For those like me with short-term memories, the X25-E was the server / enterprise variant of the famous X25-M series, the key difference being that it featured 50nm SLC flash. SLC flash offers both higher performance and an order-of-magnitude better write durability than the MLC flash used in the consumer X25-M models. Three years is quite a long time, especially given the X25-M line has seen no less than three major updates within the same time frame.

So why bring it up now? Because the German site ComputerBase.de has just confirmed new details on Intel’s long awaited replacement for the X25-E SLC SSDs. In keeping with Intel’s recent change of the X25-M nomenclature to the SSD 320 Series, these new drives will be known as the Intel SSD 700 Series.

Only two models are currently known, and they differ substantially from one another. The 710 Series will feature 100, 200, and 300 GB capacities and use Intel’s own 25nm MLC flash. The drive reportedly offers a 270MB/s reads and 210MB/s write speed over a SATA 3Gb/s interface.

By comparison the 720 Series couldn’t be more different. For one thing it ditches SATA completely and uses the PCIe 2.0 interface. Secondly, it will actually use 34nm SLC NAND, making it the closest spiritual successor to the X25-E drives, and will be offered in 200GB and 400GB versions. And as one might guess, it includes the usual eye-popping performance figures with 2200MB/s reads and 1800MB/s writes, leaving it pretty clear as to why the new SATA 6Gb/s interface wasn’t chosen.

As one might expect, as the successor to the X25-E the Intel SSD 700 drives are targeted for server and enterprise use, and doubtlessly will have suitable price tags to match. Nonetheless it will be interesting to see how the 710 Series will stack against the Vertex 3 Pro, and the 720 Series against the PCIe-based OCZ Z-Drive as both would be direct competitors in the enterprise space. Thanks to Intel’s choice of MLC-HET NAND and SLC NAND, the 700 Series may possibly be the most durable SSDs seen so far.