16GB flash drive is smaller than a penny
December 18th, 2007
Intel has just unveiled a tiny solid-state disk (SSD) that it says is “smaller than a penny and [weighs] less than a drop of water.” The Z-P140 SSD uses a parallel-ATA (PATA) interface and targets handhelds, digital entertainment devices, and embedded systems.
Z-P140 SSD (left) compared to ordinary BGA NAND flash chip (right)
The Z-P140 will initially be offered in 2 and 4 gigabyte capacities, but will eventually support up to 16GB. The tiny SSD will be marketed as an option for use with Intel’s “Menlow” platform for “mobile Internet devices,” which is scheduled to launch in 1H-08.
The Menlow platform is due in 1H-08
Specs of the Z-P140 SSD include:
- Read speeds — 40 MB/sec
- Write speed — 30 MB/sec
- Active power consumption — 300mW
- Sleep mode power — 1.1 mW
- MTBF — 2.5 million hours
- Weight — 0.6 gm
- Size — 18 x 12 x 1.8 mm
- Voltage — 3.3V for I/O and control signals
- Operating temperature — 0 to +70 degrees C
The SSD is based on Intel SD54B and SD58B NAND flash chips.
Intel expects to ship the Z-P140 in the first quarter of 2008. The company plans to introduce a serial ATA (SATA) version of the device by the end of 2008. No word on pricing.
