Intel on Tuesday unveiled its second generation solid-state drive based on 34-nanometer manufacturing process promising higher performance at less cost.

Its new X series of solid-state drive is based on 34-nanometer chip and performs twice as faster as Intel’s previous version with improved case read/write latency and is eco-friendly.

“Our goal was to not only be first to achieve 34nm NAND flash memory lithography, but to do so with the same or better performance than our 50nm version,” said Randy Wilhelm, Intel's Vice President and General Manager of the NAND Solutions Group.

New channel prices for the X25-M 80GB are $225 for quantities up to 1,000 units (a 60 percent reduction from the original introduction price of $595 a year ago). The 160GB version is $440 (down from $945 at introduction) for quantities up to 1,000 units. The X25-M comes in a standard 2.5-inch form factor.

The X18-M, in a 1.8-inch form factor, will begin shipping on 34nm later in the quarter.
Intel’s rumored 320GB Postville SSD is also set to be unveiled later this year according to the reports and its X18-M, which comes in a 1.8 inch form factor, will begin shipping later this quarter.

Intel