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solid-state disk

Controllers become the focal point for solid-state disk

Warning: This post is larded with acronyms. Sorry, it can't be helped.

Fusion-io recently announced SMLC flash memory. What is SMLC? To understand how Fusion-io coined this acronym (and it is all theirs), you need to first become familiar with two more--SLC for Single Level Cell and MLC for Multi Level Cell. Both refer to types of NAND flash memory, and both are hot items right now, but for different reasons. MLC NAND flash memory is relatively cheap, abundant, and commonly used in PCs, laptops, and mobile messaging devices. SLC is in comparison much more expensive, not as … Read more

Is Google trying solid-state disks?

Solid-state disks, which use flash memory instead of spinning magnetic platters to store data, may have just won an endorsement from a demanding, high-prestige customer: Google.

According to a Monday report in DigiTimes, Google is using Intel SSD technology combined with Marvell controller chips in servers at the company's headquarters. The technology is due to ship late this quarter, the report said.

SSDs offer energy consumption and performance advantages over conventional drives, but they can't match the earlier technology on capacity so far. Google, with thousands of servers, is very sensitive to all those issues.

Given the increasing … Read more