Today Intel officially launched a new line of enterprise-oriented SSDs. Dubbed the DC S3700 ('DC for Data Center', 'S' for SATA), this new line fills the large interface speed void left by the older 710 Series, which was limited to SATA 3Gb/sec speeds.
The S3700 makes some big promises and we are expecting samples shortly. Here's the tally of what's to come:
- Intel designed 8-channel controller ASIC and firmware
- SATA 6Gb/sec interface
- 7mm x 2.5" form factor
- Random 4k writes 15x faster and reads 2x faster than SSD 710
- 75,000 4k random read IOPS (all models)
- 19/32/36/36k 4k random write IOPS (for 100/200/400/800GB capacity)
- 500MB/sec sequential reads (all models)
- 200/365/460/460 MB/sec sequential writes (for 100/200/400/800GB capacity)
- 25nm MLC-HET IMFT flash
- Rated for 10 Drive Writes per Day (DWPD) over a 5-year lifetime
- Solid-State-Capacitor backed power-loss protection
- Shipping in volume ~Q1 2013
- 1k qty pricing: $235/$470/$940/$1880 ea. for 100/200/400/800GB capacities
The cost of just over $2/GB should be very enticing for an enterprise-grade SSD, but the most interesting tidbit I got from the briefing was that Intel claims this drive will achieve a <500us response time for 4k random writes, 99.9% of the time. Most SSDs will begin to show intermittent peaks in latency when hit with sustained 4k random access. The S3700 Series should mostly eliminate that issue. More to follow on that front once we can log some hours on a sample.
