3D NAND SSDs target system builders, gamers

Article By : Western Digital

The 64-layer 3D NAND WD Blue SSDs are F.I.T. Lab certified, while the SanDisk Ultra 3D SSDs promise faster data transfer.

Western Digital Corp. has announced its first client SSDs built with its 64-layer 3D NAND technology.

The WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD targets DIY enthusiasts, resellers, and system builders. The device touts 1.75M hours MTTF and is certified by WD Functional Integrity Testing Lab (F.I.T. Lab) for compatibility with leading platforms.

In addition, customers can download for free the Acronis True Image WD Edition cloning software and WD SSD Dashboard software for performance and capacity monitoring and firmware updates.

The WD Blue will be available in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities in both a traditional 2.5-inch/7mm cased drive as well as a single-sided M.2 2280 form factor.

The company also released the SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD intended for gaming and creative enthusiasts who want to improve their PCs. Western Digital described the SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD as an ideal drop-in upgrade for existing systems, promising endurance and reliability, no-wait boot-up, shorter application load times, and quicker data transfer. The SSD is also shock- and vibration-resistant.

The SanDisk Ultra 3D SSDs will be available in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities in a traditional 2.5-inch/7mm cased drive form factor.

Both products boast up to 560MB/s and 530MB/s sequential read and write speeds, respectively. The SSDs come with a 3-year limited warranty and will be available worldwide in the third quarter of 2017.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (SRP) will start at $99.99 for the WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD and SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD 2.5-inch/7mm version and will start at $99.99 for the WD Blue M.2 2280 version.