OCZ is also working on a high-capacity SSD line, targeting data-centers that seek higher performance and capacity, called Chiron. Built in the 3.5-inch form-factor with a 6 Gb/s serial interface (not sure if it's SAS or SATA), the Chiron is a complex SSD, which consists of multiple SSD sub-units, each driven by OCZ-Indilinx Everest controllers, maintained in an abstract RAID configuration by a localized RAID controller. The drive is available in capacities as high as 4 TB, and provides sequential performance as high as 560 MB/s, with 4K access performance of 100,000 IOPS.

As a leading SSD vendor, OCZ sure has a strong engineering muscle to flex. Flex it did, with the AEONDrive DRAM SSD. This drive uses DRAM as its primary storage medium (as long as there's a constant power source). The device is thus ideal for those parts of the datacenter which hold "hot data". Unlike similar solutions such as FusionIO drives, the AEONDrive utilizes SAS 6 Gb/s interface. SAS is a low-overhead protocol since it allows exchange of larger numbers of simultaneous host commands than ATA. As for the performance OCZ claims the AEONDrive provides 140,000 IOPS 4K, and 540,000 IOPS 512. Since DRAM is a much lower-density medium than NAND flash, one should expect AEONDrives to be available only in relatively low capacities such as 64 GB (still big enough for pain databases). Not much more is detailed about the drive. It would be great if the AEONDrive could back itself up onto NAND flash before turning itself off.

PMC-Sierra, Inc., (Nasdaq:PMCS) or PMC, the semiconductor innovator transforming storage, optical and mobile networks, today announced that Adaptec by PMC is demonstrating a server that doubles storage performance, reduces power consumption and increases reliability in a smaller data center footprint to help meet the soaring demands on data centers while driving down total cost of ownership. The CeBIT demonstration features a RAID controller card prototype based on the industry's only PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 capable 24-port RAID-on-Chip (RoC) from PMC, installed in a system based on the new Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family, and 22 Seagate Pulsar enterprise solid state drives (SSDs). Visit Adaptec in the CeBIT Storage Pavilion, Hall 2, Stand E51 to view the demonstration.

The server configuration delivers a sustained data transfer rate of 6600 MB/s in reads and 5000 MB/s in writes. This performance is made possible by the significant bandwidth advantages of the new Intel platform's PCIe 3.0 interface combined with the SRCv's 24-6Gb/s SAS interfaces and Seagate's SAS Pulsar SSDs that deliver sequential reads of 370 MB/s and sequential writes of 200 MB/s. Previous-generation systems based on PCIe 2.0 are typically capable of less than 3000 MB/s data transfer rates.

With the new Ultrabook specification being governed by Intel, and compatible Ivy Bridge Core processors facing delays, Taiwan-based notebook vendors are finding incentives in launching "Ultrabook-like" PCs, notebooks that are about as compact as Ultrabooks, but with vendors' own hardware specifications. Such PCs are also said to be designed keeping in mind lower price-points, such as $600. These notebooks will do away with expensive metal unibody chassis, hollow hinges, and SSDs, and replace them with more cost-effective ones. For example, 7 mm-thick HDDs are already announced. Those could make viable alternatives for SSDs. Such Ultrabook-alternatives could be launched as early as in Q2-2012, sources note.

Here's a picture of Toshiba's its newest gaming notebook in the works, the Qosmio X870. Although unveiled, it will be a little while before we can see this 17.3-incher in stores. That's because it's said to powered by "next-generation" Core processors (Ivy Bridge), and "next-generation" NVIDIA GeForce GPU (Kepler), with 3 GB of GDDR5 memory. Its 17.3-inch TruBrite display packs 1920x1080 pixels resolution. Other notable specifications of this brute includes 2TB SSD+HDD hybrid, Bluetooth 4.0, four USB 3.0 ports, Harman-Kardon speakers, Blu-ray drive, and wired Ethernet. According to the source, the Qosmio X870 is headed for a Q2-2012 launch.

External docking stations are popular because of its flexibility and compatibility. However, because it is for external use, the interface limits the transfer speed of your hard drive while only allowing one to be use at a time. In a standard computer case, there are several 5.25" bays usually reserved for your DVD ROM drive, however, will not naturally fit with your 2.5" or 3.5" hard drives without some assistance. Using the MB971SP-B DuoSwap, you will save precious desktop space by integrating both 3.5" & 2.5" slots into a single 5.25" bay. This gives you the ability to expand and easily go from your external docking station to your computer in just seconds.

Micron Technology, Inc., one of the world's leading providers of NAND Flash and advanced solid-state storage solutions, today announced that it has developed a 2.5-inch enterprise solid-state drive (SSD) based on a PCIe interface. The solution combines a high-performance PCIe interface with a hot-swappable 2.5-inch form factor that creates new options for enterprise server performance scalability and serviceability.

Because the 2.5-inch form factor allows PCIe SSDs to be integrated into the front end of the server (like traditional data storage drives), customers can easily service the drive or scale performance - without ever powering down the server.

Germany-based TV and video solutions provider Elgato has today announced that it begun rolling out its CES 2012-unveiled Thunderbolt SSDs. Measuring 83 x 21 x 131 mm, these portable solid state drives feature a rock-solid metal enclosure, they include a Thunderbolt port (for both power and data delivery), and offer transfer speeds of up to 270 MB/s.

The Thunderbolt SSD line includes 120 GB and 240 GB models priced at $430 / 400 Euro and $700 / 650 Euro, respectively.

As promised, OCZ Technology is showing off at CeBIT 2012 its newest Vertex Series solid state drive, the Vertex 4. Pictured below, the upcoming SSD is based around the Indilinx Everest 2 platform, it features synchronous MLC NAND Flash memory (SLC can be used for enterprise-oriented models), and is capable of transfer speeds of up to 550 MB/s and up to 90,000 IOPS.

The Vertex 4 drive on display at CeBIT has a 2.5-inch form factor, a SATA 6.0 Gbps interface, and, according to the live demos, it delivers sequential read/write speeds of 367/305 MB/s and up to 80,000 IOPS for 4k random reads.

Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the availability of the Accelerator Series SSD cache drives.

The Accelerator Series is designed for desktop PC users who want to give their Microsoft Windows based PC a dramatic performance boost with minimal cost and hassle. Corsair's new line of SSD cache drives includes premium Dataplex caching software from NVELO, for improved boot times and lightning-quick file access. After connecting an Accelerator Series SSD cache drive to their computer's SATA port and installing the caching software provided with the drive, users will see an immediate speed boost. No drive mapping, no reinstallation of the operating system or applications, and no complex file management is needed - the Accelerator Series SSD cache drive works in tandem with the customer's existing hard drive to provide optimized performance. Customers may see an improvement in read/write speeds of up to 5x their current hard drive performance after installing a Corsair Accelerator Series SSD cache drive.

The new Aspire Timeline Ultra was first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last January; today Acer showcases the new Aspire M3 of the Timeline Ultra family, at the CeBIT tradeshow in Hannover, Germany.

The latest Timeline series is slimmer and lighter than its predecessors (measuring just 20 mm thin), without compromising its state-of-the-art performance. In fact, the new Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 raises the bar by being the first Ultrabook with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GT640M graphics for enhanced content creation and consumption.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards is delighted to showcase its forthcoming 7 series motherboard designs supporting 3rd generation Intel Core processors, showcasing a range of features including the new All Digital Engine, GIGABYTE 3D BIOS and GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 technology. Join GIGABYTE at CeBIT 2012 in Hall 15, D19 from March 6th through March 10th 2012.

Visitors to CeBIT 2012 can have an exclusive look at motherboards that feature the latest All Digital Engine design for the PWM. Our new All Digital power design allows users greater control over the power delivered to their 3rd generation Intel Core processors that use the LGA 1155 socket. Using entirely digital controllers for the CPU, processor graphics, VTT and system memory, users can enjoy more precise power delivery to the PC's energy sensitive components than previously possible.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST), a leading supplier of enterprise-class solid state and hard disk drives, today announced that EMC Corporation (NYSE:EMC) has qualified and is now shipping Hitachi Ultrastar SSD400S SLC-based (single level cell), 2.5-inch, SAS solid state drives (SSD) in its "all Flash" VNX Unified Storage systems for mission-critical Microsoft and Oracle environments. The Ultrastar SSD400S family is the world's first jointly develop SAS and FC enterprise-class SSDs, combining Hitachi GST's proven enterprise HDD strength with Intel's extensive capabilities developing high-endurance SLC NAND flash memory and advanced SSD technology. All of this powers Hitachi GST's leading line SSDs with high endurance, reliability and sustained performance for Tier 0, mission-critical server and storage workloads.

GIGABYTE today introduced an extraordinary lineup of computers that are redefining mobility and powerful performance. The U2442V is a sleek and stunning 14" Ultrabook that provides fantastic performance with a 3rd generation Intel Core i5/i7 ULV processor, while the U2442N features the same incredible form factor, but has a powerful 3rd generation Intel Core i5/i7 standard voltage processor. Both models feature an excellent NVIDIA GeForce GPU, which provides remarkable graphics performance for multimedia and games.

Other models to be introduced include the P2542G, which is a 15.6" powerful gaming notebook with an exciting race car design; and the Q2542N, an excellent 15.6" mainstream notebook that delivers terrific versatility. Also to be showcased at CeBIT 2012 is the S1081, a 10.1" powerful business slate; the Booktop T1132N, an 11.6" revolutionary 3-in-1 notebook, tablet and desktop; the Booktop M2432, a sleek 14" notebook that provides desktop graphics performance through its unique docking station; and the AC21, an all-in-one PC that simplifies the desktop experience.

STEC, Inc., The SSD Company, a leading global provider of solid-state drive (SSD) technologies and products, today announced that its enterprise-class MACH16 SSD technology now extends to the embedded market in one of the industry's smallest solid-state form factors.

The new MACH16 Slim SATA SSD provides embedded system designers with the same advanced flash management technology as STEC's enterprise SSDs. The device leverages industry-standard 22-pin SATA cabling (supporting JEDEC MO-297 and SFF-8156 specifications) and provides the highest data integrity, endurance and reliability available in this market segment. With these features, the MACH16 Slim SATA SSD is well-suited for high-performance and rugged embedded systems.

RunCore, leading developer and brand manufacturer of high-end Solid State Drives (SSDs) and storage solutions, will put that latest SSD offerings on display during the world's largest IT fair in Hannover, Germany. During CeBIT 2012 from March 6 through 10, in Hall 11, Booth A11-1-5-1 RunCore will show SSD innovations ranging from consumer, enterprise to industrial solutions. RunCore will be showcasing most advanced SSD storage solutions that provide highest speeds and lowest power consumption with best data security/lifetime. RunCore is presenting professional SSD storage solutions going mainstream.

Share your operating system but secure your data. RunCore's Xapear is a smart SSD solution with RFID protection, allowing you to split your data into freely accessible once, and those that are only accessible by applying a special RFID key. Furthermore, Xapear offers remote data destruction by simply sending an SMS from your mobile device. There will be a live demonstration of this innovative remote storage control technology at the RunCore booth.

AVADirect recently began to offer Mini SATA SSDs for all compatible notebooks. This is an extremely convenient option for those who want massive amounts of storage and fast performance with very little affect to their wallet. These new Mini SSDs offer speeds as high as 220 MB/s per read/write with TRIM compatibility. The MINI SSD cards are installed in notebooks internally via the mini PCI-E slot, usually where wireless cards have been installed for some time.

The reduced size of the mini SSDs provide a form of durability that 2.5 SSDs are not able to match. We will begin to offer these mini SSDs as an option in all appropriate notebook configurations and will continue to update our selection as they are released. This is a very exciting period for notebooks as they continue to become less limited in the amount of performance they can provide next to a desktop. To view all mini-SSDs we offer click Mini-SSDs at AVADirect.

OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, will showcase its innovative client and enterprise SSDs at this year's CeBIT tradeshow in Hannover, Germany. OCZ's latest products and technology demonstrations will be on display at the event in Hall 17, Booth D31.

With new cutting-edge technology in the client space, OCZ will display the upcoming Vertex 4 SSD Series based on the SATA 6 Gbps Indilinx Everest 2 platform, revealing industry-leading performance and superior data management for all file types and sizes.

PNY, a global storage, upgrade and graphics solution manufacturer for both consumers and professionals, today introduced its new Professional SSD (solid state drive) range. Built for enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals alike, the high-end drives are available in 120 GB, 240 GB and 480 GB capacities. Thanks to decades of experience manufacturing Flash memory and computer components, PNY has created its most advanced generation of SSDs yet.

Jonathan Filleau, Consumer Product Marketing Manager EMEA, said: "PNY today added its fourth generation of SSDs to an already comprehensive range of upgrade and storage solutions. Consumers will be well aware of the experience and expertise at PNY's disposal when dealing with both Flash memory products and components, and should trust that when partnered with SandForce, we have manufactured a robust and reliable product."

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced test results for servers utilizing the world's first 20 nanometer (nm) class Green Memory that were conducted at the Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in Munich. A system based on Samsung's 20 nm-class DDR3 memory and solid state drives (SSDs) together with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V proved to be twice as fast as current memory configurations for servers setting up virtual machine instances and recovering data in private cloud environments. These advanced configurations also consumed as much as 50 percent less power per server.

Buffalo Inc. has today announced the SSD-NS/PM3P series solid state drives featuring a Marvell controller and Toshiba-made MLC (multi-level cell) NAND Flash memory. These SSDs have a 2.5-inch form factor, a SATA 6.0 Gbps interface, 256 MB (on the 128 GB model) or 512 MB (256 and 512 GB drives) of DRAM cache, TRIM and NCQ support, they deliver transfer speeds of up to 500 MB/s, and are backed by a three-year warranty,

Buffalo's drives come bundled with a 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch adapter and are priced at $300 (128 GB), $588 (256 GB) and $1,112 (512 GB). The 128 GB and 256 GB models will go on sale in Japan in mid-March while the 512 GB SSD will follow soon.

While Vertex 3 is OCZ's flagship SATA 6 Gb/s SSD based on the SandForce SF-2281 processor, Agility 3 is its performance-mainstream variant that uses the same SF-2281, but with async NAND flash memory. Reviews have found the drive to offer high price-performance. OCZ has traditionally kept Agility 3 reserved for lower capacities, reserving higher capacities for its other product families., however two new variants hit the radar in the Japanese markets today, the 180 GB (AGT3-25SAT3-180G), which is not even listed on OCZ's global site, and a 360 GB variant (AGT3-25SAT3-360G).

The 180 GB variant offers sequential speeds of up to 525 MB/s read, and 500 MB/s write, with 35,000 IOPS 4K random write performance; while the 360 GB variant offers sequential speeds of 525 MB/s read, 495 MB/s write, and 35,000 IOPS 4K random write performance. Like all other drives in the Agility 3 series, the two are built in the 2.5-inch form-factor, with SATA 6 Gb/s interface. The Agility 3 180 GB is priced at 19,000 JPY (US $256), and the 360 GB variant at 36,000 JPY (US $447).

Greenliant Systems, a leader in energy-efficient, highly secure and reliable solid state storage products, has started mass production of its industrial grade SATA interface NANDrive solid state drives (SSDs). Operating at temperatures between -40 and +85 degrees Celsius, I-grade SATA NANDrive devices keep customer data safe while withstanding extreme environments.

The industrial grade SATA NANDrive is currently available in 2 GByte, 4 GByte and 8 GByte, with higher capacities planned. These products combine Greenliant's internally developed NAND controller with single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash die for a fully integrated SSD in a multi-chip package. For applications requiring the endurance and speed of solid state storage in very small form factors, SATA NANDrive is one of the smallest SSDs at 14mm x 24mm x 1.95mm. Offered in a 145 ball grid array (BGA), 1mm ball pitch package for easy and firm mounting to a system motherboard, NANDrive is resistant to shock and vibration.

German memory and storage supplier takeMS has this week revealed its own line of solid state drives based on SandForce's SF-2281 controller. Dubbed UTX-2200, takeMS' SSDs feature a 2.5-inch form factor, a SATA 6.0 Gbps interface, MLC (multi-level cell) NAND flash memory, TRIM and NCQ support, and a MTBF of 2 million hours.

The UTX-2200 drives are capable of read/write speeds of up to 550/500 MB/s (up to 70,000 IOPS) and will ship (soon) in 60 GB, 120 GB, 240 GB and 480 GB capacities. Each model will be backed by a two-year warranty and will be bundled with a 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch adapter.

ORICO also unveiled the 8618NAS, a single-bay NAS device that's built in the top-loading "toaster" dock form-factor that allows snappy docking and removal of SATA HDDs and SSDs in the 3.5" and 2.5" form-factors. This unique device connects the SATA HDD/SSD to the network over gigabit Ethernet, with support for most modern home-NAS technologies, or to a standalone PC over USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, as a mass-storage device. The 8618NAS from Orico is slated for early-March. Its pricing and other functional details are still under wraps.