SandForce Announces 2nd Gen SSD Processors

SandForce has officially announced the SF-2200 and SF-2100 SSD processors.

Thursday Patriot Memory announced that its new Wildfire line of SSDs will use the SandForce SF-2200 processor to achieve sequential read and write speeds up to 500 MB/s (@ 128K blocks) via a SATA 6 Gb/s interface. However SandForce also released its own announcement that same day, officially launching the SSD processor and its slower 3 Gb/s SATA-based brother, the SF-2100.

"With high profile products now incorporating SSDs as standard storage media and most other system vendors offering them as options, the market for client SSD applications is poised for growth as SSD prices decline,” said Joseph Unsworth, Research Director, NAND Flash & SSD at Gartner. “SSD controllers that can deliver superior performance and reliability without the dependence on DRAM will have a compelling value proposition across a wide range of client applications.”

As previously indicated, the SF-2200 enables sequential read and write speeds up to 500 MB/s. The SF-2100 processor only achieves sequential read and write speeds up to 250 MB/s. However, both processors arrive in a single-chip "DRAM-less" form factor and feature DuraClass Technology (RAISE, DuraWrite), support for advanced 30nm- and 20nm-class NAND flash from all leading flash vendors, advanced ECC engine correcting, power and performance optimization and tuning features, OPAL security with 256-bit AES encryption and automatic, line-rate double encryption with a drive-level password.

In addition to the SandForce and Patriot Memory announcements, OCZ Technology revealed that its new Vertex 3 SSD will use the new SandForce SF-2200 processor, but will "raise the bar" by achieving 550 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write transfer rates and up to 60,000 IOPS (4k random write) via a SATA 6 Gb/s interface. The SSD will arrive in 120 GB and 240 GB capacities, and feature both TRIM support and a 3-year warranty. To see our hands-on impressions of the drive, check out Andrew's review right here.

In related news, OCZ also announced on Thursday the Vertex 3 Pro SSD which will rely on the SandForce SF-2500 processor. This version will be geared to business consumers seeking enterprise-grade MLC (Multi-Level Cell) SSD storage for their server farms and IT infrastructures. This Pro edition will arrive in three flavors: 100 GB, 200 GB, and 400 GB models.

The Vertex 3 and Vertex 3 Pro will ship after next week's International CeBIT tradeshow in Hanover, Germany. Patriot's Wildfire line of SSDs are expected to arrive sometime in Q2 2011.