INTRODUCTION

    Solid state drives may not have reached a point when consumers can actually get models with several TB's in capacity without spending a whole months pay (if not more) but technology behind them has evolved quite a bit and although up until even just a year ago only Samsung products made use of the newly introduced 3D NAND flash memory (32 storage tiers available in both MLC and TLC) today there are many manufacturers with such models in their product lines. 3D NAND flash memory may not have much to offer in terms of performance and endurance numbers compared to the "older" planar NAND flash memory but because of its architecture it does allow for much higher capacities which can go all the way (and perhaps even exceed) up to 10TB for a 2.5" model. Micron released their 1100 series of client SATA SSDs a few months back and although not much is known about this particular line we just had to be among the very first in the world to check it out.

   Micron Technology, Inc., is a global leader in advanced semiconductor systems. Micron's broad portfolio of high-performance memory technologies—including DRAM, NAND and NOR Flash—is the basis for solid state drives, modules, multichip packages and other system solutions. Backed by more than 35 years of technology leadership, Micron's memory solutions enable the world's most innovative computing, consumer, enterprise storage, networking, mobile, embedded and automotive applications. Micron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.

   The brand new Micron 1100 is currently available in M.2 and 2.5" SATA form factors and with capacities all the way up to 2TB (up to 1TB for the M.2 model). This drive pairs the same 4-channel Marvell 88SS1074 controller we saw in the Crucial MX300 line with Micron's 384Gb 32-layer TLC NAND flash. Once again the Marvel controller packs several technologies and features including dynamic write acceleration (SLC caching), partial power loss protection, static and dynamic wear leveling, active garbage collection, LDPC error correction code (ECC), adaptive thermal protection, data-path protection, multistep data integrity algorithm and fully supports DevSleep (device power save), TRIM, SMART, AES 256-bit hardware encryption, TCG Opal 2.0 and IEEE-1667 (thus rendering it fully compatible with Microsoft's eDrive). In terms of endurance Micron rates the 1100 256GB 2.5" SATA model for up to 120TB TBW (roughly 65GB of writes per day for 5 years), gives it an MTTF of 1.5 million hours and as usual covers it with a 5 year limited warranty.