Intel's SSD 525 mSATA drives are the latest iteration in the line and utilize 25nm MLC NAND memory with LSI SandForce SF-2281 controllers. According to Intel, SSD 525 drives can reach up to 50,000 IOPS random read and 80,000 IOPS random write, while sequential read performance runs up to 550 MB/s with sequential writes of 520 MB/s. The SSD 525 series measures 50.8mm x 29.85mm x 3.7mm, weighs 10 grams, and includes a PCIe mini-connector intended to support applications from netbooks, thin-and-light systems, mini and sub-notebooks, all-in-one computers, and embedded platforms. The SSD 525 Series offers additional key features such as: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128-bit Encryption, End-to-End Data Protection, and Data Compression.

The SSD 525 mSATA follows on to Intel's prior generation SSD 310 series, which previously only came in 40GB and 80GB capacities and entered the mSATA SSD space at a very early phase. Now almost every significant SSD vendor offers an mSATA form factor for the ultraportable and embedded computing spaces in a variety of capacities making the market much more competitive. As noted Intel continues to leverage the SandForce controller in their consumer (client) line of products which unifies their support structure and simplifies firmware builds and the like. Intel is also leveraging their own NAND which comes from the IMFT partnership with Micron, further improving their ability to offer a quality product with class-leading reliability and compatibility, both critical factors to OEMs considering product for integration in this space.

The Intel SSD 525 mSATA is shipping now in capacities of 30GB, 60GB, 120GB, 180GB, and 240GB with street pricing of $60, $110, $170, $230 and $290 respectively at the time of this review. Our review model is the highest available 240GB capacity.