Retro SSD drive: parallel ATA interface reappears

It’s been a while since I last saw a Solid State Drive with a parallel ATA interface, but at least one company is still developing them. Active Media Products announced a new 128GB SSD earlier this week, targeted at systems that are limited to an old PATA interface.

The new SaberTooth drive is available in three sizes (32GB, 64GB and 128GB). All models use MLC Flash memory, and have a maximum read speed of 80MB/s and a write speed of 38MB/s. As can be expected, the drive is meant as a performance upgrade for older laptops, promising the usual improvements such as better battery life, less heat and speedier disk performance. The normal ZX model measures 70 x 54 x 5 mm, and a smaller 54 x 32 mm “SaberTooth Z” is also available.

All models are available immediately; the part numbers are N32G-PATAZIF-ZX for the 32GB model, N64G-PATAZIF-ZX for 64GB and N128G-PATAZIF-ZX for 128GB. The current price for the 128GB model is $379.95; I doubt much people will be willing to spend that much money on an older laptop, but I guess Active Media Products does see a niche market here.

Related posts:

1. Seagate first to add 6 Gbps SATA interface to a 2TB drive
2. Plextor enters SSD market
3. SSD news from Super Talent: new drives up to 512GB
4. OCZ and Kingston offer new SSD’s
5. Samsung touts low-power 512GB SSD