On the tail of announcing its latest QLC NAND storage solution back in late September, Intel has launched the SSD 665p this week.
Intel SSD 665p
The Intel SSD 665p packs second-generation 96-layer 3D QLC NAND tech, following on from the strides taken with the existing SSD 660p, which launched back in summer 2018.
For the uninitiated, QLC is an acronym for Quad Level Cell and in practice, means NAND is layered in four-bit cells. It’s a case of upping the density of the SSD, so get more space, performance, and value for less cost.
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In reality, the benefits aren’t as clear cut. The higher the bit count per cell, the more charges you need, and more charges translate to slower performances, cutting down on the read/write cycles the SSD can handle without petering out.
While single-level cell and triple-level cell drives offer significantly better longevity, Intel appears eager to bridge the gap from the 64-layer 3D QLC NAND on the 660p, hence the SSD 665p.
Intel says it offers better performance to the tune of 1.5 times over the 660p, and better endurance, up to 50% on the 660p.
In real-world applications, the benefits aren’t going to stand out to the average consumer, but represent a step in the right direction for Intel.
Final Word
The SSD 665p uses a PCIe 3.0×4, NVMEe interface, has an M.2 22 X 80 MM form factor and packs sequential read speeds up to 2 GB per second and sequential write speeds up to 2 GB per second.
As for writing, there’s a 1 TB SSD 665p, with a 2 TB variant planned for next year. We don’t yet have a firm answer on pricing for either model, but the SSD 660p retails well under $100, so we expect at least the 1 TB SSD 665p to follow suit.