OWC Announces Mercury Pro SandForce-Driven SSDs With Up To 480 GB Capacity

[btarunr]

Other World Computing announced today it has added four new 'prosumer' desktop/notebook user class Solid State Drives to its award-winning OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD line. Designed and made in the U.S. from imported parts, the new models offer the largest capacity of any current OWC SSD - up to 480GB - along with three key features not commonly found in affordable consumer class SSDs:

• Up to 285MB/s sustained data rates with no speed degradation
• 7% over-provisioning to ensure the highest level of data reliability
• Up to 1/7 less active power use for longer notebook battery runtime

The OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD is available for immediate ordering in four Macintosh and PC compatible configurations that install easily in notebooks as well as in desktop/towers with an adapter:

• 60GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD $219.99
• 120GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD $379.99
• 240GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD $699.99
• 480GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD $1,579.99

Dramatically Decreases Boot & App Load Times
The new OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD models are an ideal way for typical Mac or PC desktop and/or notebook computer users to dramatically increase the performance of their machine. In a side-by-side comparison test the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD was able to boot the OS and load six apps in just over 30 seconds while the factory standard hard drive took nearly two minutes.

Doesn't Slow Down With Use Like Ordinary SSDs
Ordinary SSDs offer fast read/write performance during first initial uses, but then experience significant write speed degradation over repeated usage. Independent simulation tests by leading Mac performance experts (http://macperformanceguide.com/SSD-RealWorld.html) confirm the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD's ultra-efficient Block Management & Wear Leveling technologies are able to eliminate virtually any reduction in data transfer speeds over heavy long term usage of the drive and without dependency on external TRIM management.

Up To 100X Greater Data Protection
Utilizing SandForce DuraClass technology, the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD is able to provide up to 100X higher data protection than provided by ordinary SSDs as well as leading enterprise class hard disk drives. By combining the highest level of Error Correction Code (ECC) and SandForce RAISE (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) technology, the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD provides RAID like data protection and reliability without loss of transfer speed due to parity.

Longer Notebook Battery Runtime
Because the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD uses as little as 1/3 the power compared to the most power efficient 2.5" hard drives and up to 1/7 less power than other leading brand SSDs without any performance sacrifice, notebook users can now maximize their "unplugged" mobile use time while desktop/tower users can enjoy the benefits of a more energy efficient system.

"The four new OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD models give consumers the most affordable options for adding the pinnacle of internal drive performance to their Mac or PC," said Larry O'Connor, CEO, Other World Computing. "With category leading performance and technology features not found in other brands, these new models are ideal for everyday users seeking near instantaneous and reliable data access."

For more information, visit this page.

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[my_name_is_earl]

Ugh... Price stab me in the heart.

 

[n-ster]

prices are decent.... I went with an OCZ vertex 2 instead though

 

[Woody112]

features not commonly found in affordable consumer class SSDs:


Talk about a jacked interpretation of the definition "affordable". Time these manufactures get off the crack pipe and actually start offering affordable high capacity SSD's.

 

[Gzero]

Cool, when we see sandforce based SSD's flood the market, prices will come down. The older controllers are just pants, these have a better chance against what Intel's premium drives use.

 

[IceCreamBarr]

features not commonly found in affordable consumer class SSDs:


Talk about a jacked interpretation of the definition "affordable". Time these manufactures get off the crack pipe and actually start offering affordable high capacity SSD's.

Interesting... I see these as being affordable. For argument sake, what other component in your PC will give you the increase in performance, fluidity and better your overall user experience for $200? If you are comparing cost per GB to HDD's then yes, overpriced, but if you were to more accurately compare an SSD to other performance "increasers" ex. an additional 2GB of RAM, a one step up in CPU level 920 to 950, selling 4890 on ebay and buying 5870, most people would agree that the cost is completely justified. So justified in fact that from a business model point of view, it wouldn't make much sense for SSD manufacturers to decrease prices... they are right in line with what the market is willing to bare. As for high capacity being expensive, there are very few people that actually need SSD speed across their entire data... and they can pay (well, their company can pay).

Just my 2c but I'm interested in the other side of the argument, let me know what you all think about SSD pricing This topic has been a curiosity of mine since the start of SSDing.

Barr

 

[Woody112]

Interesting... I see these as being affordable. For argument sake, what other component in your PC will give you the increase in performance, fluidity and better your overall user experience for $200? \

Barr

Noticed I said high capacity. 60gb is hardly HC. 1600 dollars for 480gb is a freakin joke. 200 dollars for 60gb for a desk top PC sure, it'll make a nice boot drive. As for my laptop, I wouldn't get very far on it. But at $3.33 a gig it's just not worth it, sure it's great for d@#k measuring but that's about it. Now the raptors I had in raid 0 did a great job for a fraction of the cost when I still had my desk top PC. 2x300gb raptors for under 400 dollars. The only difference I noticed where an SSD had me was on start up other than that I didn't wait for anything. So the real question is it really worth spending that kind of extra money on a Desktop PC to shave off what 10 seconds on your boot time. Food for thought

 

[Drac]

60GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD $219.99 hmmm interesting, lets see if someone reviews it

 

[Makaveli]

If that was $199 I think it would look alot more attractive.

 

[n-ster]

It is time that the SSDs become SATA III though :shadedshu

 

[Makaveli]

I would like to see abit more performance out of the current SATA III models before making the jump. I think the next refresh or gen of SSD will be what really maxes out SATA III.

 

[n-ster]

maxes out SATA II you mean

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Is the 480 variant available from any other manufacturers? Never heard of this brand.

 

[WarEagleAU]

CPU magazine has reviewed the OWC Mercury Pro 60GB and that thing rocks. Check it out online or in the store. Its the latest mag.