Mushkin launches SandForce powered SSDs

Memory specialist Mushkin is looking to enter the growing SSD marketplace with a product of its own, the Callisto. Previewed by the guys over on HotHardware, the Mushkin Callisto series promises some pretty impressive performance figures, as all the drives use the SandForce SF-1200 controllers. These allow the drives to achieve read speed so 285MB/s and write speeds of up to 275MB/s.

Mushkin plans to make them available in 60GB, 120GB, and 240GB sizes (models MKNSSDCL60GB, MKNSSDCL120GB, and MKNSSDCL240GB respectively) - and all three drives in the series come with a three-year warranty, plus the usual SSD specifics such as wear-levelling designed to prevent premature death should you decide to use the drive for write-heavy tasks.

The drives are available now from Mushkin's store, with prices in dollars seeming reasonable as the 60GB base model can be had for $218.49 (approx £147). This is competitive with non-Sandforce SSDs such as the OCZ Vertex.

Do you think that Mushkin's entry into the SSD market could be just what you've been looking for, or are the drives still too pricey? Share your thoughts over in the forums.