Crucial announces laptop SSD line that sells for 30 cents a gigabyte

Crucial Technology today announced its least expensive SSD line, which will retail for 30 cents per gigabyte for models with up to 960GB capacity.

The Crucial BX200 SSD line will be offered in three capacities: 240GB, 480GB and 960GB with retail prices of $84.99, $149.99 and $299.99, respectively.

The new SSD prices are about 5 cents per gigabyte less than Crucial's previous consumer SSD, the BX100. For example, the 1TB model of the BX100 retailed for $342.

By comparison, Samsung's lowest cost consumer SSD, 850 EVO, retails for $370 for 1TB model.

The Crucial BX200 SSD is 7mm thick, enabling it to be used in most thin notebooks, but not ultrathin models. It's compatible for use in Windows PC and Mac systems.

Crucial, Micron Technologies' consumer SSD brand, uses the company's smallest process NAND flash memory, which is just 16 nanometers in size. The NAND is made even denser through the use of triple-level cell (TLC) flash memory that stores three bits of data per cell, as opposed to two or one. TLC is quickly becoming the leading consumer flash today.

The BX200 uses a SM2256 controller from Silicon Motion, which offers a top sequential read/write speed of 540MBps and 490MBps, respectively. The drive has a top sequential read/write speed of 66,000 and 78,000 I/Os per second, respectively.

The speeds are comparable with those of other consumer SSDs today. For example, the Samsung 850 EVO has a maximum sequential read/write speed of 540MBps and 520MBps, respectively.

The SSD comes with True Image HD software, a data migration tool that allows users to make a duplicate copy of an existing hard drive or SSD to a new blank one for easy migration.

Crucial is also offering its Storage Executive tool that monitor's the drive's use and health.

“The new Crucial BX200 SSD is an ideal solution for consumers whose computers are slowed down by an old or inadequate hard drive,” Jonathan Weech, senior worldwide product manager for Crucial, said in a statement. “This SSD is the perfect blend of performance and value, allowing a user to get more done and have more fun. Installing a BX200 will help users enjoy their computers again.”