Intel to debut 320GB SSD in Q4 2009

Bloomberg reports Intel plans to unveil a series of solid state disks that offers 320GB of storage capacity in the fourth quarter. These SSDs will use 32nm NAND flash memory chips.

The company, the world’s biggest semiconductor maker, will begin selling eight new drives with as much as 320 gigabytes of capacity in the fourth quarter, according to a document Intel sent its customers.

The chips are built using so-called 32-nanometer production technology, Intel’s most advanced manufacturing method. Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini in 2005 began a venture with Micron Technology Inc. to make chips called Nand flash memory. The company is betting flash will replace hard disks as the main storage in laptop and desktop computers, expanding the market beyond portable devices including Apple Inc.’s iPhone.

Additionally, Intel plans to unveil "Braidwood", this product features 16GB of flash memory and is aimed at boosting system responsiveness and boot-up time. Sounds a lot like a USB stick with Windows Vista's ReadyBoost support but the report doesn't go into the details.

Intel also unveiled its mainstream Havendale processors are delayed to Q1 2010, these will be the first Intel processors with integrated graphics.