Toshiba Intros 30GB/62GB mSATA And Half-Slim SSD Drives

Haven't you heard? There's a new connector in town! Over at IDF this week, the SATA IO Working Group is on hand to tout its newest interface standard, the low-profile mini-SATA (mSATA). Designed mainly to give a formal connector to smaller SSDs that fit into netbooks and notebooks, the standard is being shown off by Toshiba, which has added 32nm mSATA and half-slim SSD modules to its lineup.

The Toshiba SG2 modules are offered in two types, one based on the new low-profile mini-SATA (mSATA) interface standard and the other a Half-Slim type, which uses a SATA connector. Both are smaller than a business card, with capacities including 30GB and 62GB for now. The 62GB module is only one seventh the volume and one eighth the weight of a 2.5-inch form factor SSD, and consumes half the power. Both promise interface speeds of up to 3Gb/sec, a maximum sequential read speed of 180MB/sec and a maximum sequential write speed of 70MBps. Furthermore, the drive supports 28-bit LBA (Logical Block Address) mode commands and 48-bit LBA mode commands, not to mention Multi-word DMA, Ultra-DMA modes and Advanced PIO commands. Oh, and did we mention that they have an optional capability for secure Full Disk Encryption (FDE) backup that prevents unauthorized data access?

The mSATA modules leverage the speed and reliability of the popular SATA interface, in a small form factor module, 1.18 in. x 0.19 in. x 2 in. (30mm x 4.75mm x 50.95mm) that connects to the system board using the low profile SATA connector. Adaptive Power Mode and SATA Device Initiated Power Management typically reduce power consumption to less than half of the Read power level when the device is in idle, standby or sleep mode.

The Half-Slim SATA II modules feature a SATA connector, measure 1.18 in. x 0.19 in. x 2 in. (54mm x 4 mm x 39mm). The Half-Slim SATA II modules have the same SATA connector used on 2.5-inch HDD and SDD form factors. Thus, this smaller form factor can easily be used in applications designed to use 2.5-inch storage form factors. The Half Slim is also JEDEC compliant.

Pricing and availability have yet to be called out, but we're hoping to hear more on that very soon.