Western Digital and SanDisk have updated their Blue and Ultra line of consumer SSDs with the latest 3D BiCS FLASH NAND technology. Capacities will range from 250 GB capacities through 500 GB and up to 1TB at launch, with a 2 TB SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD "coming soon." The hardware powering each drive is exactly the same, save for the difference in available storage: the controller used is a Marvell 88SS1074, protocol is SATA 6Gbps / AHCI, and even warranty stays the same through all WD and SanDisk models, at three-years (limited.)

The WD Blue line of SSDs will be available in both 2.5" and M.2 2280 single-sided models. Sequential read speed starts at 550 MB/s for both WD Blue 250 GB and SanDisk Ultra 3D, with sequential write speeds at a rated 525 MB/s and read/write IOPS being set at 95,000/81,000 respectively. All other (higher) capacities deliver slightly more performance: 560 MB/s sequential read speeds, 530 MB/s sequential writes, 95,000 random read IOPS, and 84,000 random write IOPS. Pricing is as follows: WD Blue 3D 250 GB ($89); Blue 3D 500 GB ($149.99), Blue 3D 1 TB ($279.99); SanDisk Ultra 3D 250 GB ($99.99), Ultra 3D 500 GB ($164.99), Ultra 3D 1TB ($279.99) and Ultra 3D 2TB ($549.99, currently unavailable.)

Crucial is giving final touches to its next-generation mainstream SATA SSDs, under the BX300 series. A follow-up to its MX300 series, the BX300 series will be launched later this Summer. The drives combine a Marvell-made controller with Micron 3D TLC NAND flash memory, and likely come in capacities of 240 GB, 480 GB, and 960 GB. Crucial will sell these drives only in the 7 mm-thick 2.5-inch form-factor with SATA 6 Gb/s interface, initially. While the company didn't talk about performance, it mentioned that the drives offer "SATA-saturating performance," meaning that at least its sequential reads could be around the 530 MB/s mark (that of the MX300), if not higher. With the BX300, Crucual is launching a new multi-media SSD install tutorial website that's made as simple to understand as possible, so anyone with a screwdriver can replace their HDD with a new SSD.

At the ADATA booth, we ran into two of the company's most exciting products, the XPG SX9000 and XPG SX8000 series M.2 PCIe SSDs. Built in the M.2-2280 form-factor with PCI-Express 3.0 x4 interface, and NVMe protocol support, the drives are positioned in the upper-performance/enthusiast segments. The XPG SX9000 combines a Marvell 88S1093 controller with planar MLC toggle-NAND flash, and comes in capacities of 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. It offers sequential speeds of up to 2,800 MB/s reads, with up to 1,500 MB/s writes, and features an LDPC ECC engine.

Plextor today announced retail availability of its M8Se series of PCI-Express solid-state drives (SSDs). Designed to compete with Samsung 960 EVO series, the drives use Toshiba-made TLC NAND flash memory, mated to a Marvell 88SS1093 controller. Available in M.2-2280 and half-height PCI-Express 3.0 x4 add-on card form-factors, the drives take advantage of PCI-Express gen 3.0 x4 interface, and the NVMe protocol.

The M8Se lineup are available in three distinct variants based on form-factor, M8Se-Y (PCIe add-on card), M8Se-G (M.2-2280 with heatsink), and M8Se-GN (M.2-2280 without heatsink, ideal for notebooks); the three further consist of variants based on capacity - 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. Performance ratings are the same on all variants - up to 2,450 MB/s sequential reads, up to 1,000 MB/s sequential writes, up to 210,000 IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 175,000 IOPS 4K random writes. The M8Se-Y and M8Se-G series drives feature chunky aluminium heatsinks which make contact with the NAND flash, DRAM, and main controller. Prices start at 83€ for the 128 GB variant, and go all the way up to 494€ for the 1 TB variant.

To meet the ever growing demands of the embedded and industrial storage market, Innodisk is launching the SATA 3IE4 series with integrated Marvell controllers. Running on Innodisk's proprietary iSLC technology, it provides performance equal to that of SLC at a much lower cost. The iSLC technology in combination with integrated LDPC error correcting code ensures an extended lifespan; upward to seven times that of standard MLC products.

Traditional MLC flash boasts high capacity, but often falls short with regards to product lifespan. SLC is a better choice for performance and longevity; however the cost is comparatively high. This is where iSLC comes in as a golden mean with a drastic increase in lifespan compared to MLC products, while sporting SLC like performance at a much lower price. This makes iSLC SSDs the perfect choice for industrial and embedded applications where MLC often do not meet longevity demands and SLC are seen as too costly.

BIOSTAR is thrilled to announce its latest addition to its great line-up of products with its newest offering from its storage family of products with the new BIOSTAR M200 Series solid-state drives. Designed for high-performance, low-profile applications, the BIOSTAR M200 Series SSD is intended for systems that require high-speed storage in a low-profile form factor like notebooks, SFF PCs and HTPCs. Available in 120GB and 240GB capacity, the BIOSTAR M200 SSD is perfect for those looking to upgrade their system with a new SSD or speed-up their mobile device for better performance and battery life.

New-generation systems come with M.2 slots that utilize high-speed connection to your system which is the best interface when you want the most from your system. M.2 form factor storage like the BIOSTAR M200 M.2 SSD come in low-profile designs which allow users to insert them in most devices that support M.2 2280. M.2 also has the benefit of zero noise, low heat output and low power draw making them an ideal upgrade for the power user looking to step-up their system performance while gaining the advantage of M.2 storage.

With its 200-series chipset motherboards, MSI introduced its exclusive M.2 Shield accessory on some of its more premium products. This aluminium heatspreader with a thermal pad, according to its makers, is designed to lower temperatures on M.2 SSDs, and reduce thermal throttling of performance. Tests by Gamers Nexus claim that far from reducing throttling, the M.2 Shield creates a "heat trap" that throttles performance further.

The M.2 Shield accessory was tested by Gamers Nexus using a Kingston HyperX Predator PCIe M.2 drive, on an MSI Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon motherboard. Driven by a Marvell 88SS9293 controller, the drive is known to heat up and lose performance to overheating. The data presented by the publication is Delta T (temperatures subtracting ambient temperature). MSI on its part, stands by the efficacy of the M.2 Shield accessory, and is sharing testing methods and data of its own with media sites. Tests by other publications such as Bit-Tech and KitGuru show positive results for the M.2 Shield.

At CES 2017, Plextor announced their next SSD product line. Dubbed the M8Se, these will be restricted to NVMe SSDs with 15nm 3-bit-per-cell TLC of Toshiba manufacture, ranging from 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and 1TB capacities leveraged by Marvell's Eldora controller.

The new mid-range NVMe SSD uses a new heatsink design (slight cost-reduction when compared with the one the M8Pe carries), that Plextor says will improve cooling by up to 20% - convenient, since throttling does happen with NVMe based SSDs - and particularly with Marvell's Eldora controller - as it did with Plextor's M8Pe line of SSDs. The card also features blue accent lighting. Plextor will also sell a heatsink-less M8PeGN model in the M.2 form factor.

Linksys today announced the next generation of its one and only WRT router -- the WRT3200ACM. The new Linksys AC3200 WRT Gigabit MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Router features Tri-Stream 160 technology creating the fastest Dual Band router available* and MU-MIMO technology for simultaneous Wi-Fi connections to multiple devices at the same time. It is open-source ready with OpenWrt or DD-WRT for complete flexibility and customization of networking functions or for optimizing the router for specific use cases, such as privacy, VoIP, and small office applications. The newly updated Linksys Smart Wi-Fi app allows users to manage and monitor their home or office Wi-Fi via the cloud from their mobile device, anytime, anywhere.

"We just made the WRT even more powerful, and equipped it with even more features as well as kept true to our word with Open Source support," said Vince La Duca, Linksys product manager. "Linksys WRT is all about making the best router in its class by using all enterprise-grade components and materials while delivering the fastest wireless experience. Our WRT3200ACM now includes MU-MIMO providing the latest AC wave 2 spec, adds DFS certification to use clear Wi-Fi channels for less interference, as well as support for Tri-Stream 160 technology. We have also increased the processor clock speed to 1.8 GHz, added up to 512MB DDR3 flash memory and kept the eSATA and USB ports WRT enthusiasts continue to appreciate."

Marvell, a world leader in storage, cloud infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity and multimedia semiconductor solutions, today announced the expansion of its solid-state drive (SSD) portfolio to include the 88NV1160 Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Express DRAM-less SSD controller. Marvell's 88NV1160 DRAM-less SSD controller provides the industry's leading performance per Watt and up to 1600MB/s read speeds. The 88NV1160 can be used in a single ball grid array (BGA) package SSD, as well as in a standalone controller in a tiny 9x10mm package which makes it compatible with M.2230 and M.2242 form factors. These features make the 88NV1160 optimized for a new generation of slim computing devices such as productivity tablets and ultrabooks. The new controller is currently available for sampling to key customers globally.

"As the world's leading storage controller provider, Marvell has a long track record of bringing to market world-class innovations, including the pioneering integration of Host Memory Buffer technology into DRAM-less products. Working closely with other ecosystem leaders, Marvell has continued to advance the industry and drive a new generation of low power, small form factor mobile computing systems," said Dr. David Chen, Vice President of SSD Business at Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. "The 88NV1160 controller is optimally engineered for high performance tablets and ultrabooks, providing unparalleled performance per Watt and the largest NAND compatibility on the market."

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is shipping UV400 SSD. The "ultra value" UV400 SSD allows fast boot times, application loading and file transfers for mainstream users at a great price point. UV400 is powered by a four-channel controller for incredible speeds of up to 550 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write, and is 10x faster than a 7200 RPM hard-disk drive (HDD).

UV400 is rugged and more durable than a mechanical hard drive as it is shock and vibration resistant making it more reliable for use in notebooks and other mobile computing devices. It is available as a stand-alone drive or as a bundle kit with all the accessories needed (2.5" USB enclosure for notebooks and 3.5" adapter for desktop, SATA cable and Acronis data migration software download coupon) for easy do-it-yourself installation. UV400 comes in 120 GB, 240 GB, 480 GB and 960 GB (shipping soon).

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash products, today launched the Premier SP580 SATA 6 Gb/s solid state drive, built for users who want to upgrade their computers with affordable SSDs and gain access to faster speeds and better efficiency compared to traditional HDDs. The Premier SP580 is powered by a Marvell controller and supports SLC caching technology, meaning it can operate in SLC (single-level cell) mode for a tangible performance boost. With LDPC ECC (low density parity check error correcting code), a high TBW (total bytes written) rating, and DEVSLP (device sleep) functionality, the Premier SP580 makes highly durable, power efficient, and affordable SSD upgrades a reality.

Utilizing a Marvell controller, the Premier SP580 offers high read/write speeds up to 560 MB/s 410 MB/s per second. It also features SLC caching for on-demand performance boosts, allowing the Premier SP580 to operate in a simulated SLC mode during intense data loads. The drive supports DEVSLP low power mode to reduce electricity costs and provide longer battery life when installed in portable. The Premier SP580 is available in 120 GB and 240 GB capacities and arrives bundled with a 2.5 mm spacer, making it suitable for diverse installs - from desktop PCs to notebooks and ultrabooks.

Plextor also unveiled the M8Pe lines of SSDs that take advantage of the 32 Gb/s PCIe interface. These include the M.2-2280 form-factor M8PeG series, and the PCI-Express add-on card form-factor M8PeY series. Both drives come in sizes of 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB; and are driven by Marvell 88SS1093 series processors, wired to Toshiba-made MLC NAND flash memory.

The 128 GB variants of both drives offer up to 1,600 MB/s reads, with up to 500 MB/s writes, with up to 120,000/130,000 IOPS R/W 4K random access; the 256 GB variants offer up to 2,000 MB/s reads with up to 900 MB/s writes, and 210,000/230,000 IOPS random access; the 512 GB variants offer up to 2,300 MB/s reads with up to 1,300 MB/s writes, and 260,000/250,000 IOPS random access; while the 1 TB variants lead the pack with up to 2,500 MB/s reads, up to 1,400 MB/s writes, and 280,000/240,000 IOPS random access.

Plextor unveiled the EP2 line of SSDs that take advantage of 32 Gb/s PCIe, and come in two form-factors, M.2-22110 and U.2 2.5-inch. Both drives combine a Marvell-made processor with up to 1 GB of DDR3 DRAM caches, and Toshiba-made 15 nm MLC NAND flash. Both drives support the ATA protocol. The M.2-22110 drive comes in 960 GB capacity, and offers sequential transfer rates of up to 2,200 MB/s reads, with up to 800 MB/s writes, up to 270,000 IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 150,000 IOPS 4K random writes. The company didn't put out performance numbers for the U.2 variant. We did manage to get some up-close pics of its PCB, though, revealing a rich array of capacitors that could amount to power-outage protection.

Plextor unveiled the M6S Plus series performance-segment consumer SSDs. A successor to the M6S series launched as recently as February 2016, the M6S Plus features 15 nm Toggle NAND flash chips from Toshiba, instead of the 19 nm ones found on the original M6S. The controller remains unchanged - Marvell 88SS9188. The drives are built in the 2.5-inch form-factor, with SATA 6 Gb/s interface.

The drives come in three capacities - 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, featuring DDR3 DRAM caches of 256 MB, 512 MB, and 768 MB, respectively. All three models offer sequential read performance of up to 520 MB/s, with sequential writes of up to 300 MB/s, 420 MB/s, and 440 MB/s, depending on the capacity. Their 4K random access performance numbers similarly vary, at up to 88,000 IOPS, up to 90,000 IOPS, and up to 94,000 IOPS, respectively. The company didn't announce pricing.

Plextor announced the M7V, a new line of cost-effective consumer SSDs, which succeed the M6V Series launched last July. Available in 2.5-inch and M.2 form-factors, the drives take advantage of the SATA 6 Gb/s interface. Available in capacities of 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, the M7V is driven by a Marvell 88SS1074B1 processor, wired to Toshiba 15 nm TLC NAND flash memory, and DDR3 DRAM caches of 256 MB, 512 MB, and 768 MB, respectively. The 512 GB M.2 variant features higher 1 GB DRAM cache. The drives offer sequential transfer rates of up to 560 MB/s reads on all three variants, with up to 500 MB/s, 530 MB/s, and 530 MB/s, respectively. Depending on the capacity, you get a manufacturer rated TBW tolerance of 80 TB, 160 TB, or 320 TB. Plextor didn't announce pricing.

Synology Inc. today announced the official release of DiskStation Manager (DSM) 6.0, the latest version of its award-winning NAS operating system. DSM 6.0 marks the beginning of a new era for Synology's DiskStation and RackStation products, expanding their role in professional environments with an exciting array of virtualization, data replication, and productivity tools.

We would like to express our gratitude to the enthusiastic users who submitted thousands of ideas and suggestions during the 6-month long beta program, helping to shape the future of DSM and create an unparalleled experience," said James Chen, CEO of Synology Inc. "The need for cloud-based collaboration tools that don't sacrifice users' privacy and ownership of data will continue to grow. With DSM 6.0, we aim to be at the forefront of this trend, helping professionals work together while maintaining an efficient data protection solution."

Plextor announced the M6S Plus line of performance consumer SSDs, succeeding the company's current M6S lineup. The drives implement Toshiba A19 toggle NAND flash memory built on the 15 nm process, and are driven by Marvell 88SS9188 controllers. Available in 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB variants, the drives serve up sequential transfer rates of up to 520 MB/s reads on all three variants, and up to 300 MB/s, 420 MB/s, and 440 MB/s writes, respectively. Random access speeds range up to 90,000 IOPS reads, with up to 80,000 IOPS writes. Plextor's proprietary PlexTurbo data-caching and PlexCompressor data-compression tech carries over from the M6S. Built in the 7 mm thick, 2.5-inch form-factor, the drives feature SATA 6 Gb/s interface.

Marvell, a world leader in storage, cloud infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity and multimedia semiconductor solutions, today announced expansion of its Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) solid-state drive (SSD) controller technology to support Host Memory Buffer (HMB), an NVMe revision 1.2 feature enabling DRAM-less SSDs to use host memory and achieve performance comparable to SSD designs with embedded DRAM but at much lower cost and power consumption. Marvell's 88NV1140 marks the industry's first SSD controller that supports HMB. Furthermore Marvell is partnering with other leaders in the PC ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of HMB-enabled SSDs for a new generation of low power, small form factor mobile computing systems.

"As the world's leading SSD controller provider, Marvell has once again made a unique contribution to the storage industry by pioneering the integration of Host Memory Buffer technology into DRAM-less products," said David Chen, Vice President of SSD Business at Marvell. "The HMB feature greatly enhances system memory utilization, reduces total system cost, lowers power consumption and provides consumers with a new class of mobile computing devices. I am very pleased with our ongoing collaboration with leading ecosystem partners and look forward to the fast adoption of HMB in the broad consumer market."

ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, has announced the launch of the brand-new AS1002T and AS1004T models, the first generation of ASUSTOR NAS products to make use of the ARM architecture. These 10 series models are powered by Marvell 1.00 GHz dual-core processors, 512 MB of memory and hardware encryption engines, providing read and write performance of 95 MB/s and 110 MB/s.

The exterior features a compact and stylish design, featuring an eye-catching diamond plate finish that allows the NAS to add a touch of modern flair to any space. The 10 series devices also feature low power consumption and ultra-quiet operation, producing only 19 decibels of noise during system standby, comparable to the almost inaudible sound of a pin drop. This allows it to seamlessly fit into any living space without disrupting the quality of life, making it the optimal personal cloud storage platform for the modern digital age.

Industrial & embedded computer manufacturer Logic Supply has launched a preview of their upcoming ML600 Series of fanless and ventless industrial computer systems. Optimized for passive heat distribution, the new systems enable up to Intel i7 desktop processing without the need for a cooling fan, reducing a common failure point in commercial PCs and virtually eliminating noise.

"Logic Supply's goal is to offer our clients the ideal system to fit their needs," said Logic Supply Product Manager Logan Cooke. "While there are other systems on the market that may offer a certain number of COM ports, or i7 processing, or fanless cooling, or a ventless chassis, there was nothing available that combined all of these features into one system. With each of the ML600 systems we wanted to offer a computer that would offer users a unique combination of capabilities and connectivity."

HyperX, a division of Kingston Technology, the independent world leader in memory products, today, announced the HyperX Predator PCIe SSD. HyperX Predator PCIe SSD is the highest-end SSD with the fastest speeds in the HyperX lineup.

HyperX Predator PCIe SSD offers large capacities (240GB, 480GB) and incredible speeds to take systems to the edge. Faster than SATA-based SSDs, the PCIe generation 2.0 x4 interface delivers speeds up to 1400MB/s read and 1000MB/s write for ultra-responsive multitasking and an overall faster system. It is powered by the Marvell 88SS9293 controller.

Kingston showed off its first M.2 PCIe 2.0 x4 SSD, the HyperX Predator. Based on Marvell's 88SS9293 controller, the same one that drives the likes of Plextor M7e, the drive uses 19 nm MLC NAND flash chips, and takes advantage of PCI-Express 2.0 x4 bandwidth, to offer transfer rates in excess of 1.4 GB/s. It will be sold both as bare-drive, and part of a PC upgrade kit, which includes a half-height M.2 riser add-on card. Capacities offered will include 240 GB, 480 GB, and 960 GB.

The other big SSD from Kingston's stable is the HyperX Savage. Built in the 7 mm-thick 2.5-inch form-factor, these drives take advantage of SATA 6 Gb/s. Based on Phison S10 series platform, and wired to 19 nm MLC NAND flash, these drives will be Kingston's fastest in its class, offering sequential reads of up to 560 MB/s, with up to 540 MB/s up to writes. This drive will come in capacities of 240 GB, 480 GB, and 960 GB. The HyperX Predator M.2 should launch in February, while the HyperX Savage launches a month later.

Plextor showed off its upcoming M7e PCI-Express SSD in the M.2 form-factor, at CES. A successor to the M6e, which was designed to offer 770 MB/s sequential reads, with up to 580 MB/s sequential writes; the new M7e offers double the performance. Although Plextor didn't put out its own manufacturer-rated numbers, the drive was put through CrystalDiskMark on a live-demo, and compared to its nearest market rival, Samsung XP941.

Built around a Marvell 88SS9293 controller, with PCI-Express 2.0 x4 bus interface, the drive features Toshiba A19 MLC NAND flash chips. The drive was tested to offer 1411 MB/s sequential reads, with 1028 MB/s writes; compared to the 1136 MB/s reads and 928 MB/s writes, put out by the Samsung XP941. With these numbers, the drive is targeted at PC enthusiasts. It will be sold both as a bare drive, and with a PCI-Express 2.0 x4 add-on card, with an M.2 riser.

Plextor launched its flagship SSD for PC enthusiasts, the M6e Black Edition. Clearly intended for enthusiast PC builds, miles away from an enterprise environment, this drive features a focus on product design, with its matte black PCB, full-length metal shroud, and a racy red aluminium heatsink popping out from a cutout in that shroud. This heatsink cools the controller and NAND flash chips. The drive comes in three capacities - 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.

Under the hood, the M6e Black Edition is essentially an M.2 riser with PCI-Express 2.0 x4 wiring. The drive sitting on its M.2 slot is driven by a Marvell 88SS9183 controller, wired to Toshiba-made 19 nm Toggle NAND flash, and 1 GB of DRAM cache. The drive offers sequential transfer rates of up to 770 MB/s reads, with up to 625 MB/s writes; with up to 105,000 IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 100,000 IOPS 4K random writes. In addition to PCIe bus power, the drive requires power from a SATA power connector. Features include PlexTurbo 2.0 technology that shuttles hot data to system memory, TRIM, NCQ, and NVMe. The drive is bootable.