A bit over a month ago, we reported that Intel's SSD 313 would be launching soon. We don't know  when exactly the launch took place but the 313 has been added to Intel's product database (ARK) and Q1'12 is listed as the launch date. The 313 is the successor of Intel's first generation caching SSD, the Intel SSD 311. We first met the 311 when Intel introduced its Smart Response Technology (see our review). Right now, only Z68 chipset supports SRT but Ivy Bridge will widen the support and bring it to more mobile and business chipsets as well.

Comparison of Intel 311 Series and 313 Series
Series Intel SSD 313 Intel SSD 311
Codename Hawley Creek Larson Creek
NAND Intel 25nm SLC Intel 34nm SLC
Interface SATA 3Gb/s SATA 3Gb/s
Controller Intel PC29AS21BA0 Intel PC29AS21BA0
Form Factors 2.5", mSATA 2.5", mSATA
Capacities 20GB 24GB 20GB
Sequential Read 220MB/s 160MB/s 190MB/s
Sequential Write 100MB/s 115MB/s 100MB/s
Random Read 36K IOPS 33K IOPS 37K IOPS
Random Write 3.3K IOPS 4K IOPS 3.3K IOPS
Street Price $120 $140 $119.50

As we suspected back in February, the controller is the same as the one found inside Intel's SSD 311. This was confirmed by HWBox.gr. The 3Gbps controller dates back to 2009 when Intel X25-M G2 was released, although it's obviously running much newer firmware.

 

Courtesy of HWBox.gr

The picture of the PCB also reveals the NAND configuration. HWBox's unit is a 20GB model and it has five NAND devices onboard. Not surprisingly, it's Intel NAND and manufactured using the new 25nm process node. Due to the die shrink, each NAND device consists of a single 4GB die. The previous generation used two 2GB dies per NAND device. It seems most likely that the 24GB model simply has an extra NAND device onboard, giving it a capacity of 24GB. 

The 313 seems to be priced identically to the 311. Price per GB is quite high at ~$6/GB, although that's fairly normal for SLC SSDs. NewEgg is already stocking the Intel SSD 313, making availability immediate. 

Sources: Intel, Intel, HWBox.gr

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  • Kristian Vättö - Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - link

    The controller is the same 10-channel design as used in other Intel's SSDs. This time only 5 or 6 of the channels are in use though. It was the same case with 311 series.
  • wijer - Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - link

    I understand better, thank you for the clarification.
  • melgross - Thursday, April 5, 2012 - link

    I'm not sure I understand the point of these drives. What use today is there for such small units? Are these intended for embedded use in equipment, rather than in general purpose computing?
  • SlyNine - Saturday, April 7, 2012 - link

    Did you read the article?

    I don't know what to say, the whole thing is about SSD caching. That's why Intel built the 313 and that's what the entire article, and what everyone is talking about, is about.

    That's like looking at a jeep and asking, but aren't interstates paved?
  • melgross - Sunday, April 8, 2012 - link

    Yes, I read the article. I still don't see what real advantage these drives would be. Caching doesn't work very well, that's already been seen since it's been available. And the value of having this much cach available is debatable.
  • aurareturn - Thursday, April 5, 2012 - link

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007P71J9W/ref=as...
  • xismo - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link

    Would you be able to combine the 24 gb mSata with a SATA III SSD drive instead of a regular HDD? The new Zenbook Prime UX32VD has 24 gb but I'd really like to avoid using HDD altogether.
  • xismo - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - link

    Would you be able to combine the 24 gb mSata with a SATA III SSD drive instead of a regular HDD? The new Zenbook Prime UX32VD has 24 gb but I'd really like to avoid using HDD altogether.
  • jdvorak - Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - link

    I, for one, would be interested in the results of the Anandtech.com standard (and very representative, IMO) set of benchmarks for this SSD.
  • jollyWitter - Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - link

    I have been running a 50gb OCZ Vertex LE (Limited Edition) mlc as my boot drive on windows 7 for almost 3 years, and I have been contemplating whether or not I should upgrade to a new boot drive. So lately I've been doing research trying to figure out what would be the best upgrade, and I have been looking to upgrade to an SLC such as the 313 series Hawley Creek to use SRT with a brand new mechanical HDD, but I have read that this SLC drive requires a z68 chipset or higher, and I have a p55 chipset on a p7p55d-e pro mobo, will the 313 series Hawley Creek SLC drive still work with my p55 chipset?

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