PureSilicon Launches Kage Platform Solid-State Storage Series

Storage specialist PureSilicon announced the launch of a line of enterprise-focused solid-state disk (SSD) storage devices designed to give IT administrators high-performance options for power users.

The Kage Series comprises the Kage K1 Sata (serial advanced technology attachment) SSD, aimed at power users in the financial services, science and engineering sectors, as well as creative professionals who require high-capacity storage for digital media, and the Kage K1 USB flash drive – a thin (4.5mm) USB 3.0-based SSD drive with a design emphasis on portable performance and capacity aimed at mobile enterprise and prosumer (professional and consumer) markets.

High specifications

The Kage K1 Sata SSD is based on the technology and features found in PureSilicon’s Renegade SSD and Nitro SSD products, but employs eMLC (enterprise multi-level cell) NAND flash memory to bring PureSilicon’s reliability and performance to a wider audience. The device delivers 6Gbps and includes a proprietary power supply design called VoltStream that monitors power quality and uses solid-state capacitors to provide energy during a host-side power failure.

The Kage K1 Sata model includes up to 400GB usable eMLC memory, up to 60K random-read and random-write input/output operations per second (IOPS),and a self-encrypting drive for data security. Pricing starts at $975.

The Kage K1 USB SSD features a USB 3.0 interface with data storage capacity of 240GB. The USB-attached SCSI protocol provides performance improvements over other devices on the market by queuing data commands in a fashion similar to that used in Sata and SAS (serial-attached SCSI) hard drives. Pricing starts at $230 for the USB SSD, and both products will be available for pre-order via the company’s Website and will begin shipping late in the first quarter, PureSilicon said.

“These are the devices that IT managers and prosumers have been asking us to make ever since we launched our range of ultra-performance Nitro and Renegade SSDs,” said Jason Breakstone, founder and CEO of PureSilicon. “The Kage Series devices will appeal to anyone that craves more performance and storage capacity from their solid-state drive but doesn’t need ruggedised packaging and advanced security features. We’re particularly proud of the Kage Series USB, which delivers the essential benefits of an SSD in something the size of a USB drive, while offering high transfer speeds and 240GB – all in killer packaging.”

PureSilicon also noted it is committed to energy efficiency and designs storage products that yield high performance per Watt. Whether the goal is to increase productivity in a mobile environment or reduce energy costs in a data centre, the company’s SSDs are designed to help achieve these objectives.

The company also noted legacy storage products such as hard disk drives are becoming less energy-efficient as manufacturers strive for higher performance, whereas SSDs offer superior performance and scalability, with lower energy consumption.