SanDisk unveiled a solid-state storage solution, Vaulter Disk, that works in conjunction with a PC's hard drive to store and launch the computer's operating system and software applications. This new solution aims to provide enhanced performance over a PC that has only a hard drive. Vaulter Disk will be offered to OEMs in early 2008 in capacities of 8-16GB.
By introducing the Vaulter Disk, which is a flash-based PCI Express module, both laptop and desktop computer manufacturers are able to harness the speed of embedded flash memory for frequently accessed files while continuing to use a spinning hard drive for bulk storage of less frequently accessed data, said SanDisk.
The Vaulter Disk requires only enough memory to host the computer's operating system (OS) and selected optional user data that is benefited by the faster access time using flash memory. The hard drive stores files, user-generated content and applications that do not require or benefit from faster seek times. The two drives operate in parallel, thereby increasing the overall speed and performance of the PC.
The SanDisk Vaulter Disk's storage concept, for which patents have been applied, transparently speeds up data retrieval for boot and application load operations, as well as unexpected user access to new files, according to SanDisk. With Vaulter Disk there is faster response time when a user randomly accesses many small files for repeated operations, such as opening applications, and for unexpected behavior, such as retrieving new applications or entries on the Internet, stated the company.
SanDisk Corporation's new solid-state storage solution, Vaulter Disk, works simultaneously and in conjunction with a PC's hard drive to store and launch the computer's operating system and software applications
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