News

Plextor Releases M6e Black Edition PCIe SSD, Shows Off Upcoming M7e PCIe SSD & TLC SSD
  • Comments are Closed

Plextor Releases M6e Black Edition PCIe SSD, Shows Off Upcoming M7e PCIe SSD & TLC SSD

Continuing with our CES SSD coverage, Plextor released a new M6e Black Edition PCIe SSD at the show. Unfortunately, the Black Edition offers nothing new in terms of the hardware or firmware design and it’s merely a normal M6e with fancy black ‘n red heat sinks. The controller is the same Marvell 88SS9183, which is a PCIe 2.0 x2 design without NVMe support, and the controller is coupled with Toshiba’s 19nm MLC NAND. Performance is rated at 770MB/s sequential read and 625MB/s sequential write with up to 105K random read and 100K random write IOPS, similar to the original M6e. I can see the reasoning behind the Black Edition since the M6e was a very plain green PCB design and especially gamers with side window cases will appreciate the new design, but otherwise the Black Edition doesn’t bring anything new to the market. 

The drive will be available later in Q1’15 and will be sold exclusively through NewEgg. Pricing is about $1 per gigabyte for the 128GB model and the larger capacities will be somewhat more cost efficient (exact pricing is to be announced). We never got around to review the original M6e due to some testbed issues, but I now have a new testbed and all capacities of the M6e Black Edition, so stay tuned for the full review (you may even get a sneak peek of our new 2015 Client SSD Suite). 

Along with the M6e Black Edition, Plextor is also releasing a 2.0 version of PlexTurbo. The software is similar to Samsung’s RAPID in the sense that it uses system RAM to cache IOs and boost performance. The 2.0 version brings increased RAM allocation (25% or up to 4GB) in addition to better optimized caching algorithm that provides even higher performance. I’ll also be taking a look at the PlextTurbo software in the upcoming M6e Black Edition review.

Moving on to upcoming releases, Plextor also demonstrated the successor of the M6e i.e. the M7e. The biggest change is the new controller (Marvell 88SS9283), which doubles the amount of PCIe lanes to four, but it’s still a PCIe 2.0 design that relies on AHCI (i.e. no NVMe). 

Performance wise the M7e presents nearly 100% improvement, at least in sequential speeds. The drive is still in development, so there aren’t any finalized specifications yet, but the drive should be available in H1’15.

Lite-on, Plextor’s parent company, had the enterprise version of the M7e called the EP1 in the suite. The controller is the same Marvell 88SS9283, but the drive has capacitors for power-loss protection and the firmware has also been optimized for enterprise workloads (i.e. more emphasis on consistency rather than peak performance). 480GB and 960GB capacity options are available in M.2 22110 form factor with performance being up to 1.5GB/s read and 1.2GB/s write. 

Plextor/Lite-on has been developing a TLC NAND based SSD for quite some time now and the release is nearing every day. Dubbed as the M6V, the drive will utilize Marvell’s new 88SS1074 controller with LDPC error correction for increased endurance.

The NAND will be Toshiba’s A19nm TLC. The schedule is still a bit open from what I heard, but the drive should make an entry to the market around mid-2015 timeframe. 

The AnandTech Podcast: Episode 30 - CES 2015 Show
  • Comments are Closed

The AnandTech Podcast: Episode 30 – CES 2015 Show

After far too long, the AnandTech Podcast is back just in time for the biggest consumer electronics show of the year, CES 2015. This year we have lined up an all-star cast of AnandTech staff to cover the entire show, from PC to SoC and everything in between.

We kick things off with Intel’s just-launched Broadwell-U family of CPUs before switching sides to AMD and looking at their FreeSync adaptive-synchronization technology and forthcoming Carrizo APUs. Then it’s all about vendors, including Asus and their new ZenFones and Windows 8 Chi 2-in-1s, MSI and their latest GT80 and GS30 laptops, and Lenovo with the shockingly light LaVie laptop. Not to be outdone, Dell also has their new XPS 13 and Alienware machines on display, all the while Occulus once again steals the show with their impressive “Crescent Bay” headset prototype. Finally in the home stretch we take a look at all things mobile, including Microsoft’s latest Lumia devices, the Snapdragon 810 powered LG Flex 2, and NVIDIA’s Tegra X1.

 

The AnandTech Podcast – Episode 30
Featuring

  • Dr. Ian Cutress: Host, Editor for Motherboards and Processors
  • Ryan Smith: Editor in Chief, Editor for Graphics
  • Jarred Walton: Editor for Notebooks
  • Joshua Ho: Editor for Smartphones
  • Brett Howse: Windows on Smartphones, Notebooks
  • Brandon Chester: Smartphones and Software

iTunes
RSS – mp3, m4a
Direct Links – mp3, m4a

Total Time:  1 hour 15 minutes 26 seconds

Outline h:mm

00:00 – Start and Introductions
00:49 – Intel Broadwell-U
05:49 – Intel Cherry Trail
07:42 – AMD FreeSync
14:42 – AMD Carrizo
16:19 – ASUS Zenfones
19:37 – ASUS Transformer
21:44 – MSI Laptops – GT80 Titan
25:05 – MSI Laptops – GS30 Shadow
27:40 – MSI USB 3.1
31:34 – Lenovo LaVie
Sidenotes:
  • 1.7lb is 771g,
  • Magnesium is 12th in periodic table (weighted non-radioactive isotope atomic weight 24.305)
  • Lithium is 3rd (weighted non-radioactive isotope atomic weight 6.94)
36:09 – Dell XPS 13
37:08 – Dell Venue 8 7000
38:38 – Dell Alienware
40:28 – Oculus Crescent Bay
48:16 – Microsoft Lumia
51:09 – LG Flex 2
57:56 – Tegra X1
1:08:06 – GTX 965M
1:09:21 – Best of CES
The AnandTech Podcast: Episode 30 - CES 2015 Show
  • Comments are Closed

The AnandTech Podcast: Episode 30 – CES 2015 Show

After far too long, the AnandTech Podcast is back just in time for the biggest consumer electronics show of the year, CES 2015. This year we have lined up an all-star cast of AnandTech staff to cover the entire show, from PC to SoC and everything in between.

We kick things off with Intel’s just-launched Broadwell-U family of CPUs before switching sides to AMD and looking at their FreeSync adaptive-synchronization technology and forthcoming Carrizo APUs. Then it’s all about vendors, including Asus and their new ZenFones and Windows 8 Chi 2-in-1s, MSI and their latest GT80 and GS30 laptops, and Lenovo with the shockingly light LaVie laptop. Not to be outdone, Dell also has their new XPS 13 and Alienware machines on display, all the while Occulus once again steals the show with their impressive “Crescent Bay” headset prototype. Finally in the home stretch we take a look at all things mobile, including Microsoft’s latest Lumia devices, the Snapdragon 810 powered LG Flex 2, and NVIDIA’s Tegra X1.

 

The AnandTech Podcast – Episode 30
Featuring

  • Dr. Ian Cutress: Host, Editor for Motherboards and Processors
  • Ryan Smith: Editor in Chief, Editor for Graphics
  • Jarred Walton: Editor for Notebooks
  • Joshua Ho: Editor for Smartphones
  • Brett Howse: Windows on Smartphones, Notebooks
  • Brandon Chester: Smartphones and Software

iTunes
RSS – mp3, m4a
Direct Links – mp3, m4a

Total Time:  1 hour 15 minutes 26 seconds

Outline h:mm

00:00 – Start and Introductions
00:49 – Intel Broadwell-U
05:49 – Intel Cherry Trail
07:42 – AMD FreeSync
14:42 – AMD Carrizo
16:19 – ASUS Zenfones
19:37 – ASUS Transformer
21:44 – MSI Laptops – GT80 Titan
25:05 – MSI Laptops – GS30 Shadow
27:40 – MSI USB 3.1
31:34 – Lenovo LaVie
Sidenotes:
  • 1.7lb is 771g,
  • Magnesium is 12th in periodic table (weighted non-radioactive isotope atomic weight 24.305)
  • Lithium is 3rd (weighted non-radioactive isotope atomic weight 6.94)
36:09 – Dell XPS 13
37:08 – Dell Venue 8 7000
38:38 – Dell Alienware
40:28 – Oculus Crescent Bay
48:16 – Microsoft Lumia
51:09 – LG Flex 2
57:56 – Tegra X1
1:08:06 – GTX 965M
1:09:21 – Best of CES
TRENDnet's Networking Solutions at CES 2015
  • Comments are Closed

TRENDnet’s Networking Solutions at CES 2015

We made our annual customary visit to TRENDnet’s suite at CES 2015. Just like last year, TRENDnet has put faith in the latest chipsets from Qualcomm Atheros, be it in the wireless networking front or powerline communication. Similar to TP-LINK’s Archer C10, we have a AC2600 router in the form of the TEW-827DRU. It uses the QCA9980 – we get 4×4 MU-MIMO with 1733 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 800 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. Four GbE LAN ports and one GbE WAN port make up the wired connections. The model also comes with detachable antennas and two USB 3.0 ports. The unit is expected to come to the market in May 2015 with a MSRP of $280.

TRENDnet has also decided to join the Broadcom XStream bandwagon with a AC3200 router, but, similar to TP-LINK’s situation, the usage of that model as a flagship should be quite short-lived.

On the powerline front, TRENDnet has opted for QCA’s HomePlug AV2 solution for the Powerline 1200 family. This has two members, the TPL-420E2K and TPL-421E2K. The latter has pass-through outlets.

The product line I came away most impressed with was the home control portfolio. In early December 2014, TRENDnet had launched the THA-101, a smart switch that could also act as a 300 Mbps 802.11n wireless extender (a differentiation point compared to the D-Link Smart Plug and Belkin WeMo). It is currently available for $55 on Amazon.

At CES, the added two new smart outlets – one communicating via powerline and the other having the ability to act as an extender for 802.11ac networks (single spatial stream only). The former is the THA-102PLK – a kit which also includes a powerline adapter for connecting to a router on one end. It will reach the market in April with a MSRP of $105. The AC extender / smart switch is the THA-103AC which will come to market in March 2015 for $80.

All the smart switches are controllable via free mobile apps (iOS / Android). It is also possible to set basic schedules and monitor power / energy consumption. One of the key selling points, in my opinion, is the fact that it can be fully controlled via a web browser. My understanding is that it is a open product. Though no public APIs are available, it shouldn’t be too difficult to control the unit via custom scripts, given that it can be controlled via a web browser. We are planning to request TRENDnet for a sample in order to see how it compares to the UFO Power Center and the Ubiquiti Networks mPower Wi-Fi power strip.

TRENDnet's Networking Solutions at CES 2015
  • Comments are Closed

TRENDnet’s Networking Solutions at CES 2015

We made our annual customary visit to TRENDnet’s suite at CES 2015. Just like last year, TRENDnet has put faith in the latest chipsets from Qualcomm Atheros, be it in the wireless networking front or powerline communication. Similar to TP-LINK’s Archer C10, we have a AC2600 router in the form of the TEW-827DRU. It uses the QCA9980 – we get 4×4 MU-MIMO with 1733 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 800 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. Four GbE LAN ports and one GbE WAN port make up the wired connections. The model also comes with detachable antennas and two USB 3.0 ports. The unit is expected to come to the market in May 2015 with a MSRP of $280.

TRENDnet has also decided to join the Broadcom XStream bandwagon with a AC3200 router, but, similar to TP-LINK’s situation, the usage of that model as a flagship should be quite short-lived.

On the powerline front, TRENDnet has opted for QCA’s HomePlug AV2 solution for the Powerline 1200 family. This has two members, the TPL-420E2K and TPL-421E2K. The latter has pass-through outlets.

The product line I came away most impressed with was the home control portfolio. In early December 2014, TRENDnet had launched the THA-101, a smart switch that could also act as a 300 Mbps 802.11n wireless extender (a differentiation point compared to the D-Link Smart Plug and Belkin WeMo). It is currently available for $55 on Amazon.

At CES, the added two new smart outlets – one communicating via powerline and the other having the ability to act as an extender for 802.11ac networks (single spatial stream only). The former is the THA-102PLK – a kit which also includes a powerline adapter for connecting to a router on one end. It will reach the market in April with a MSRP of $105. The AC extender / smart switch is the THA-103AC which will come to market in March 2015 for $80.

All the smart switches are controllable via free mobile apps (iOS / Android). It is also possible to set basic schedules and monitor power / energy consumption. One of the key selling points, in my opinion, is the fact that it can be fully controlled via a web browser. My understanding is that it is a open product. Though no public APIs are available, it shouldn’t be too difficult to control the unit via custom scripts, given that it can be controlled via a web browser. We are planning to request TRENDnet for a sample in order to see how it compares to the UFO Power Center and the Ubiquiti Networks mPower Wi-Fi power strip.