OCZ launches budget SSDs

These new chips are cheap as... chips.

Memory maker OCZ has launched a new range of more affordable solid state disks (SSDs) as part of its Onyx range.

The 'ultra-affordable' 2.5in SATA II MLC drives start at less than $US100 MSRP for the 32GB version, which should be large enough to comfortably run the operating system and most applications, while content can be stored on a more capacious traditional spinning disk.

Being based on flash based storage, SSDs are a lot faster and less power hungry than traditional hard drives, but they are still generally considered to be prohibitively expensive by many users.

According to OCZ, the Onyx SSDs feature a 64MB onboard cache and offer read and write speeds of up to 125MBps and 70MBps respectively. They also feature TRIM support to help ensure that peak performance is maintained.

"Designed to offer the best of both worlds, the OCZ Onyx SSD delivers the speed and reliability of solid state storage to mainstream consumers at an aggressive price point that makes the technology more accessible to customers who want to take advantage of all the benefits of the SSDs without incurring the high cost normally associated with the solution," explained Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ.

So far there is only the 32GB version available in the Onyx range, but bigger drives are surely in the pipeline.