Power usage for Intel’s new SDD is nice and low

Intel_logo_51211699We covered the new Z-P140 PATA SSD flash storage from Intel a few days ago, but there’s some confirmation of some facts and even better: more numbers on the power usage. In their press release, Intel cites that the drive will use 300 milliWatts of power when in use and a lowly 1.1 milliWatt when in a catatonic sleep mode. Although the comparison isn’t exactly apples to apples, looking back on a 7200 RPM, 160 GB screamer of a drive from Fujitsu, it uses up to 2.3 Watts of power when in use. The best comparison is probably somewhere in between with a 4200 RPM drive that consumes just over 1 Watt; that means the Intel SSD offering should use 66% less power. Granted, that’s just one component of many, but every little bit o’ juice we can squeeze out of use in a mobile device, the better. Intel also confirms the read & write speeds we heard last week: 40 MBps and 30 MBps.The flash chips are currently sampling now and are expected to be in full production in the first quarter of 2008. I’m sure we’ll hear more at CES about which devices will use these, but it likely means this option won’t be seen in handhelds until the March, April or May timeframe. I’d be really curious to see what the wholesale component price will be for these and when we’ll see them expanded to 16 GB, which Intel states they’re capable of.

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