Intel prunes SSD prices
Extends budget range too
Intel has pledged to make its solid-state drives less expensive. It has reduced what it charges resellers for its 320, 330 and 520 SSDs.
It also added a 240GB drive to the 330 line, which previously topped out at 180GB. The 330 series is pitched at consumers seeking a cheaper option than its better-performing 520 family.
Alas, Intel didn't say how much it's cutting prices, which will in any case take a wee while to filter through to affect over-the-counter prices. Like almost all suppliers, Intel doesn't like to say what it charges go-betweens for kit, and it doesn't sell direct to users.
The 180GB Intel 330 currently retails for around £150; the 240GB 520 comes in at around £200, while the 480GB model is typically £550. ®
COMMENTS
I wonder if a sizeable drop in SSDs will hurt new machine sales. I used to buy a laptop every other year but last time I was due for a replacement instead of shelling out over a grand on a new laptop I spent about £500 on replacing my current laptops drives with an SSD and a hybrid. As a result I now have a 3 year old machine that is as (if not not more) responsive than a lot of modern laptops.
Disclosure: I primarily use VS 2010 for work which is very heavy on disk usage.
Obvious timing
I bought an SSD last week, so of course this is going to happen now...
Intel drives now are hardly distinguishable from any other Sandforce based drives now. They stood out from the crowd once.. but no more.
Why bother paying a premium when there are cheaper alternatives from Crucial, Samsung.. which dont slow down when they encounter compressed files.
Re: Going Down ...
"Unless the "very, very soon" is meant as "in the next few years, maybe".
Are you crazy? Prices are already around 55p/Gb. Falling at 50%/pa this means around a month - not many years. Yep something might happen to stop it - but how likely is that in a month?
waiting for the time being.
My buying point will be when I can get a nice 512Gb for £150. Summer 2013?
