SandForce launches SF-2100, SF-2200 SSD controllers

SSDs have come a long way in the last few years and SandForce is continuing that evolution today by introducing new controllers (PDF) that double the performance of the company's early iterations. The new SF-2100 is equipped with a SATA 3Gb/s connector while the latter uses the speedier SATA 6Gb/s interface and both processors optimized for client computing applications.

The SF-2100 offers read and write rates of up to 250MB/s while the SF-2200 peaks at 500MB/s. Both feature SandForce's "DuraClass" technology, a name that includes DuraWrite, Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements (RAISE), and AES encryption technologies. As with previous models, the latest SF chips don't require an external DRAM chip and other key features include:

• Support for advanced 30nm- and 20nm-class NAND flash from all leading flash vendors with Asynch/ONFi1/ONFi2/Toggle interfaces with data transfer rates up to 166 Mega Transfers per second
• Trusted Computing Group (TCG) OPAL security with 256-bit AES encryption and automatic, linerate double encryption with a drive-level password
• Advanced ECC engine correcting up to 55 bits per 512-byte sector to assure high data integrity and support for future generations of flash memory
• Power and performance optimization and tuning features to maximize mobile battery life

With SSDs appearing in various mainstream products and many vendors offering them as options, SSD prices are bound to fall and DRAM-less solutions will drive a hard bargain according to Gartner research director Joseph Unsworth. "SSD controllers that can deliver superior performance and reliability without the dependence on DRAM will have a compelling value proposition."