STEC has introduced multi-level cell (MLC)-based SSDs for OEM customers of MLC-based ZeusIOPS solid state drives, optimised to meet the demands of enterprise storage and server applications.

The company claimed that these versions of SSD product families achieve reliability levels using MLC NAND Flash components. The MLC-based drives will be offered with enterprise SAS 6Gb and 4Gb FC connectivity and in 2.5 and 3.5 form factors with capacities up to 800GB. These products are expected to be shipping in volume by the first quarter of 2010.

Reportedly, MLC NAND has not been considered a practical storage media for SSDs used in the enterprise applications due to the endurance and reliability demands of those markets until now. However, STEC designs and implements flash controller technology and flash management algorithms to render performance and endurance that is superior to hard disk drives (HDD) and consumer-grade MLC SSDs, the company said.

STEC is said to be relying on its core developed technologies, adaptable to both SLC and MLC Flash, to deliver MLC-based products to its customers. The company expects that these lower cost MLC versions of our SSDs could expand the size of its markets by creating cost-performance advantages in certain sectors of the market that have until now been reticent to adopt SSDs for cost reasons alone.

Manouch Moshayedi, chairman and chief executive officer of STEC, said: While we believe our core customers will continue to rely on and demand our industry-leading SLC-based SSDs, it is apparent that several of our price-sensitive OEM customers are now looking for SSD alternatives which only a true MLC-based SSD can deliver. Our introduction of MLC-based SSDs is an important next step in the enablement of even wider spread adoption of SSDs and will open doors to new and exciting markets for us.

The company has also introduced its latest 3rd generation 4Gb FC ZeusIOPS SSDs and 6Gb SAS ZeusIOPS SSDs. The 6Gb SAS ZeusIOPS SSD will deliver 80,000 IOPS Random Read, 40,000 IOPS Random Write with transfer speeds of 550MB/s read and 300MB/s write. The 3rd generation FC SSD will deliver 80,000 IOPS Random Read, 40,000 IOPS Random Write with transfer speeds of 380MB/s read and 300MB/s write.