Intel's 320 Series solid-state drive

If I could have my pick of any SSD to serve as the system drive in a new desktop, I might be tempted to pass over the Intel 320 Series and pay the premium for a 6Gbps model with superior overall performance. I say "might" because we don't yet know how much the Vertex 3 and Crucial m4 will cost when they hit online retailers or whether Intel will maintain the 510 Series' high prices when they do. I'm also hedging my bets as we prepare a more comprehensive suite of storage tests to tackle the latest wave of solid-state drives. By the time that suite is ready, we should have a better idea of how much all the various options will cost, allowing us to compare the value propositions of high-end SSDs and mid-range models like the Intel 320 Series.

Oh, and one more thing. Lest you think Intel's use of a Marvell chip in the 510 Series and the old X25-M controller in the 320 foretells an end to in-house controller development, Intel tells us it "continues to develop controller technology and firmware for both consumer and enterprise SSDs." A successor to the enterprise-oriented X25-E is in the works, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it share new controller technology with a consumer model targeted at enthusiasts and power users.TR