SFF.Network Mushkin’s Helix SSD Range Announced

Revealed at CES, Mushkin is moving into the realms of SSD, with the "Helix" range to complement their RAM product range. The Helix range currently consists of M.2 SSDs, targeted at the enthusiast and high-end desktop and laptop markets. Featuring 3D MLC NAND (from an unknown source) and a Silicon Motion SM2260 controller, the SSDs promise (according to Muskin) improved performance and endurance over previous generation 3D NAND. The drives take the form of the M.2-2280 form factor, running on a PCIe 3.0 4x bus.

Read more here.

 

[HeroXLazer]

If it's been launched, shouldn't we be able to buy it?

 

[confusis]

If it's been launched, shouldn't we be able to buy it?

Welcome to the realms of a 'paper launch', very common in the tech world.

 

[HeroXLazer]

Welcome to the realms of a 'paper launch', very common in the tech world.

Oh, so it's launched, just no one's selling it?

 

[cmyk78]

This could be good for boards like the Z270i ROG strix with two m.2 slots. Have something like a 960 pro for a boot drive and one of these for mass ssd storage.

 

[Rusty McFot]

Any ideas on price yet?

 

[ricochet]

Any ideas on price yet?

Probably smack dab in the middle between Crucial's MX300 and Intel's 600P NVMe???

 

[HeroXLazer]

Probably smack dab in the middle between Crucial's MX300 and Intel's 600P NVMe???

No, 600P is max 1TB

 

[Phuncz]

I find it so incredibly confusing they called the controller "SM2260", making me read it as "M.2 type 2260".

 

[robbee]

I find it so incredibly confusing they called the controller "SM2260", making me read it as "M.2 type 2260".

M.2 in general is confusing. I wonder who's idea it was to generalise multiple keys, interfaces & lengths all in 'M.2'.

 

[Kwirek]

M.2 in general is confusing. I wonder who's idea it was to generalise multiple keys, interfaces & lengths all in 'M.2'.

The same people responsible for USB3.X?

 

[Zerofool]

I think the title is a bit misleading. These were just shown at CES. Just like at CES 2016 the affordable 2TB single-controller Reactor SSD and the twin-controller 4TB Reactor SSD (targeted at sub-500$) were shown but never materialized. I hope the Helix line actually makes it to market.

 

[confusis]

Changed title to 'Announced', due to concerns raised above.

 

[HeroXLazer]

Changed title to 'Announced', due to concerns raised above.

It was announced at CES.

















I'm just kidding. I'm just trying to get on your nerve.

 

[confusis]

It was previewed at CES, the range was announced this week.

This thread is for the discussion of the product, not the choice of title, which has been rectified.

 

[HeroXLazer]

It was previewed at CES, the range was announced this week.

This thread is for the discussion of the product, not the choice of title, which has been rectified.

Exactly.

 

[EdZ]

M.2 in general is confusing. I wonder who's idea it was to generalise multiple keys, interfaces & lengths all in 'M.2'.

m.2 makes perfect sense when you include the slot key and the dimensions, it's their omission that is the problem (like listing a motherboard as "ITX" but failing to mention the socket and chipset).

 

[Dyson Poindexter]

I think I ran the numbers once and with all the keying and dimensions there are tens of thousands of m.2 form factors. I suspect we'll see the one of the smaller sizes (2230? 1626?) be used exclusively for Ultrabooks and compact laptops, and 2280 remain the de facto standard for desktops and full size laptops. At least I hope it works that way. I would hate to buy a bunch of 2280's and have the market shift towards using a 2260 or something.

 

[EdZ]

2242 is the common 'mini' m.2 for cache drives in laptops (e.g. used with Intel's RST), and 2230 for things like WiFi cards (there are a handful of 1630 cards, but those fit in the 22mm width sockets directly).
Moving to shorter drives should not be an issue: most boards that support 2280 will have a movable standoff to allow shorter drives (like 2260), and if not you can still use a [bracket](http://i.imgur.com/HXwP4Nd.jpg) to secure it.
The problem would be if a larger format like 22110 became more popular, but this seems unlikely with the establishment of 2280.

 

[Phuncz]

To add, the 22110 format has made an appearance in a few enterprise solutions, which makes sense since that market prefers power loss protection often times found on that extra 30mm. I'm not worried we'll see these anytime soon on the consumer market, though I'm glad most consumer brands are gravitating towards 2280 so we can have a pretty uniform support.