Intel today announced the launch of the Intel Optane SSD 900P Series, the first SSD for desktop PC and workstation users built on Intel Optane technology. Intel, in collaboration with Roberts Space Industries, announced the new SSD at CitizenCon, a Star Citizen community gathering in Frankfurt, Germany.

The Intel Optane SSD 900P Series delivers incredibly low latency and best-in-class random read and write performance at low queue depths – up to four times faster than competitive NAND-based SSDs – opening incredible new possibilities. With the new SSDs, users will unlock more potential from their platform. The Intel Optane SSD 900P Series is ideal for the most demanding storage workloads, including 3D rendering, complex simulations, fast game load times and more. Up to 22 times more endurance than other drives also gives the heaviest users peace of mind.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash products, today launched the XPG SX6000 SSD. The product represents a bold move to provide PCI Express storage performance for nearly the same price to end users as that of traditional 2.5” SATA SSD. The SX6000 uses the compact M.2 form factor and reaches 1000MB/s read and 800MB/s write, easily doubling SATA SSD throughput without a relative increase in price. This is part of an ADATA focus on high speed, compact M.2 drives aimed at gamers, overclockers, and PC DIY enthusiasts. The SX6000 meets NVMe 1.2 specs and offers up to 1TB capacity, all at an approachable entry-level alongside its more premium stablemates the SX7000, SX8000, and SX9000.

Twice the speed without a need to spend significantly more
The leading advantage of the SX6000 is embodied in its superb cost-performance ratio. Using 3D TLC NAND, a Realtek controller, NVMe 1.2 technology, and a PCIe Gen3x2 interface, it reaches 1000MB/s read and 800MB/s write. Compared to a typical 500MB/s by 400MB/s on SATA III SSDs, this means doubled performance for less than 10% more spend in same-capacity comparisons. Increasingly, motherboards ship with two and four M.2 slots, up from a single slot on select boards just two years ago. Therefore, PCIe M.2 SSDs are expected to become more normative and the SX6000 encourages this trend as an affordable high speed alternative that works great as an OS drive and mass storage.

QNAP Systems, Inc. (QNAP) today released the TS-431XeU NAS (available in 2GB and 8GB RAM models) that offers a compact, short depth design with a 10GbE SFP+ port for high-speed connectivity. The TS-431XeU features a standard 1U form factor, and is ideal for space-constrained SMBs and homes that require fast, stable and secure storage.

The rackmount TS-431XeU has a shorter chassis depth of 11.46 inches (291 mm), allowing for saved space to be used for ventilation or cabling to facilitate flexible deployment. Combining high-performance hardware and software at a cost-effective price, the TS-431XeU is a superb storage solution for SMBs. With a noise level of only 20.3dB, and power consumption of 12.42W (sleep) or 30.99W (active), the TS-431XeU is quiet and eco-friendly, ideal for lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash products, today launched the industrial-grade IM2S3148 M.2 2280 SATA 6Gbps solid state drive. Utilizing the compact M.2 form factor for an easy fit in various installations and delivering up to 560MB/s read and 530MB/s write, the drive employs durable and long-lasting 3D NAND Flash for extended longevity and improved power efficiency compared to 2D NAND. The IM2S3148 is carefully tested to survive extreme temperatures and humidity as well as provide robust resistance to shocks and vibration. Customers can choose capacities from 128GB to 512GB. 

Space and power saving efficiency
Thanks to the compact dimensions of the M.2 2280 form factor, the IM2S3148 requires far less room than 2.5” SATA drives. It can therefore better serve users as more proper embedded storage, rather than add-on storage that requires independent power and more intricate accommodation. The IM2S3148 takes power directly from the M.2 slot, consuming just 2.3W at peak. 

QNAP is expanding its popular Thunderbolt NAS lineup with a new model packed with features and capabilities for content creators at a price that will keep the accountant happy too. The TS-453BT3 is a compact and stylish desktop NAS with 4 drive bays for 3.5” or 2.5” HDDs/SSDs for up to 40TB of internal storage (using 10TB drives) and storage is expandable with QNAP expansion enclosures. Under the hood, the TS-453BT3 is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Intel Celeron Apollo Lake processor and features 8GB of DDR3L RAM. 10GbE and Gigabit LAN ports are standard, and the TS-453BT3 features dual M.2 2280 SSD slots for caching. Multimedia is the name of the game with the TS-453BT3, it features two 4K-capable HDMI 1.4b ports with built-in hardware media transcoding and two Thunderbolt 3 ports conveniently located on the front of the unit.

“Our Thunderbolt NAS models have been a smashing success because they bring the flexibility of the Thunderbolt 3 ecosystem into the studio yet also give the business folks the backup, file sharing, video surveillance, and other business-critical NAS functions in a single device.” Said Erick Oliveros, Marketing Manager for QNAP. “With the storage capacity, performance, and capabilities you could essentially run your entire business on this NAS.”

Silicon Power adds a second model, the Bolt B10, to its brand new portable SSD product line.

Design
The Bolt B10 is the perfect companion for busy commuters and frequent travelers who need fast and reliable storage on the go. It is not much bigger than a business card and weighs only 25g, yet offers storage capacities of up to 512GB.

Convenience
With fast read and write speeds of up to 400MB/s, the B10 ensures smooth file management and hassle-free data backups. It has a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface and comes with a micro-B (B10) to Type-A cable.

Silicon Power releases its first portable SSD, the Bolt B80, which combines bold design, impressive performance and safe storage.

Design
The Bolt B80 impresses with an extraordinary design, shape, size, as well as feather lightness. Its futuristically stylish UFO-shaped aluminum housing measures only 1.2cm thick and 7.5cm in diameter and will glide effortlessly into pockets or bags for safe storage.

Performance
Equipped with a Type-C port and USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface, the B80 reaches read/write speeds of up to 500/450MB/s for blistering-fast data transfers and back-ups.