Micron Technology, Inc., today introduced the M500 solid state drive (SSD), featuring terabyte-class capacity, new ultra-slim  package designs, and increased response times at a more affordable price point.  Available to consumers, businesses, and system builders under the Crucial brand, and to OEM customers under the Micron® brand, the new M500 SSD is built start-to-finish by Micron, providing the  quality and reliability that only a NAND flash memory and SSD manufacturer can  provide. Watch this behind-the-scenes video to see how Micron designs and builds SSDs.

Benefits of Advanced NAND Flash Technology
The M500  SSD utilizes Micron’s award-winning, 20-nanometer (nm) multilevel cell (MLC)  NAND flash to achieve terabyte-class capacity and enable a new level of SSD  price competitiveness; the 960GB Crucial M500 SSD will be initially priced under  $600.

Micron’s advanced NAND flash technology also provides more storage in a small footprint.  Micron is the first manufacturer to pack nearly half a terabyte of storage onto an SSD module the size of a stick of  gum (80mm x 22mm). This new form factor, called M.2, along with the mSATA  form factor, are key designs for current and next-generation ultrathin  computers, including Ultrabook™ devices, tablets and convertible PCs. Visit micron.com/ultrathin to discover how Micron SSDs can transform the ultrathin experience.

SSD Performance
Dramatically  faster than a hard drive, the M500 SSD enables lightning fast boot-up, near  instant wake from sleep, and fast application loading, creating a dynamic and  engaging computing experience. The M500 SSD uses a SATA 6Gb/s controller combined with Micron’s custom firmware to deliver  up to 80,000 input/output operations per second (IOPS). The drive’s sequential  read and write speeds reach up to 500 MB/s and 400 MB/s, respectively.¹

“The M500 SSD is a reliable storage solution featuring nearly instantaneous  system response times and terabyte-class capacity—all at a competitive price  point,” said Glen Hawk, vice president of Micron’s NAND Solutions Group. “For  consumers, the Crucial M500 SSD is an easy, cost-effective solution for  dramatically increasing system performance. For OEMs, we’re ultrathin ready  with the Micron M500 SSD—improved response times, lower power consumption, and trusted  reliability —all in a design that’s smaller than ever before.”

Next-Generation Feature Set
The M500 SSD incorporates extended features  important to ultrathin systems, such as device sleep (DEVSLP), which increases system  battery life while maintaining system responsiveness. This feature enables the drive  to draw less than 5 milliwatts of power while the system is in sleep mode— a  93% power improvement compared to previous-generation drives.²

The M500  SSD also incorporates the following specially designed features to provide  users with peace of mind that their data is protected:

• Hardware encryption technology (TCG Opal 2.0 +  IEEE 1667) designed to maintain data security in the event of device theft or  loss³
• Greater thermal management enables the drive to work  with the host computer to dynamically adjust power consumption based on usage  demands, helping designers face the challenges of ultra-small, thermally   constrained systems
• Expanded power-loss protection and advanced  error recovery techniques deliver class-leading reliability. Data integrity is  protected even during unexpected power loss

Compatibility and Availability
The Crucial  M500 SSD is backed by a three-year limited warranty and is compatible with both  PC and Mac® systems⁴. The 2.5-inch drive will be available in 120GB, 240GB, 480GB and 960GB capacities.  The smaller M.2 and mSATA form factors will be available in 120GB, 240GB and  480GB capacities. The 2.5-inch Crucial M500 SSD is expected to be available for  purchase in the first quarter of 2013 through select global channel partners or direct through www.crucial.com. Micron will sell the M500  SSD direct to OEMs and through their distribution network. The M.2 and mSATA  form factors are expected in the second quarter of 2013.