Intel 320 Series SSD 160 GB Review

A Closer Look

Intel uses a different internal configuration than most manufacturers with the Intel 320 Series 160 GB SSD, as the controller supports ten memory channels rather than eight.

Figure 1: Intel SSD 320 Series

The exterior casing of the 320 Series is constructed from brushed aluminium, giving it an attractive appearance. It should also provide a decent level of protection for the PCB inside and keeps weight to a minimum. On the top of the drive, there is a plastic spacer which makes the drive conform to the standard 2.5” form factor.

Figure 2: Intel SSD 320 Series PCB (top)

We find the Intel PC29AS21BA0 controller located on the top side of the PCB. It has maximum rated read and write speeds of 270 MB/s and 165 MB/s, respectively. The 64 MB cache chip is also located topside, right next to the controller. This is a Hynix chip with the model number H5585162EFR.

Figure 3: Intel SSD 320 Series PCB (underside)

There are 12 memory chips in total: 10 located on the top of the PCB and two on the underside.  These make up the total capacity of 160 GB. They are Intel’s own 25 nm MLC chips and have the model number 29FI6B08CCMEI . When formatted, the drive has a usable capacity of about 149 GB.