Kingston starts shipping SandForce-based HyperX SSD Review

Kingston Digital has started shipping the HyperX solid-state drive (SSD), its first SATA 3.0 6Gb/s SSD. Featuring the latest SandForce controller, the Kingston HyperX SSD is aimed at enthusiasts, gamers, and performance users.

The HyperX line is available in 120GB and 240GB capacities. Both ship as a standalone SSD (includes HyperX branded 2.5" to 3.5" desktop mounting plate) or as a bundle with the HyperX Upgrade Kit (includes Acronis True Image HD migration software, desktop mounting plate, external drive bay, multi-head screwdriver, and SATA data cable).

Here is the official lineup, including US pricing as it appears on Amazon.com, Buy.com, Newegg.com, and TigerDirect.com: 120GB stand-alone SSD for $270 (SH100S3/120G), 120GB HyperX Bundle Kit for $285 (SH100S3B/120G), 240GB HyperX Stand-alone SSD for $520 (SH100S3/240G), and 240GB HyperX Bundle Kit for $540 (SH100S3B/240G).

Announced less than two months ago, the new drives use the same SandForce SF-2281 controllers found on the Vertex 3 and are rated for a sequential read and write throughput of 525MB/s and 480MB/s, respectively, with sustained random 4K read/write of 20,000 / 60,000 IOPS on the 120GB model and 40,000 / 60,000 IOPS on the 240GB model. The drives are built using premium Intel 25nm Compute NAND (P/E 5K).

Other features also include TRIM and SMART support, advanced wear-leveling technology, and user configurable over provisioning. Additionally, the drives are backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 support.

Originally, the HyperX SSD was supposed to arrive in stores by the end of July. It appears there was a bit of a delay, but thankfully it wasn't a major one.

Lexar starts shipping 64GB, 128GB SDXC cards

Lexar Media has announced that it is now shipping its Lexar Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) 133x memory card in 64GB ($200) and 128GB ($330) capacities. The latter is an industry first, meaning that you won't find 128GB SDXC cards from anyone else.

With these larger capacities, Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards are better for shooting continuous, rapid-fire images as well as extended lengths of 1080p HD video. They also offer a Class 10 speed rating with a minimum guaranteed speed of 133x (20MBps), a limited lifetime warranty, and free technical support. This Lexar series also comes with the company's Image Rescue software, which helps recover lost or deleted photo and video files.

"We saw a demand for a professional card that would allow photographers to not only capture more high-resolution images and HD video, but to also take advantage of the full capabilities of their high-performance digital SLRs and camcorders," Pachi Chen-Wong, senior product marketing manager at Lexar Media, said in a statement. "With the new Lexar Professional SDXC cards, we developed a product that will enhance the professional photography workflow. With capacities of 64GB and 128GB, photographers can capture, store and transfer more images and HD video in one place than ever before."