MacBook Air rumored going Toggle DDR 2 for storage

Apple may push the MacBook Air's storage even further with its update by using a relatively new technology from Samsung. A part supplier source says Toggle DDR 2.0 flash is expected to be even faster than the upgraded SSDs used now and would peak at 400MBps. The Macotakara tip had it using brand new 19 nanometer memory to fit more in a given space and might even be built into the mainboard, not just on an add-in mSATA card.

The format wouldn't just appeal to Apple's desire for thinner notebooks but should be more power efficient. NAND flash memory using Toggle DDR 2.0 can run at a lower voltage than single-rate storage. It's also clockless and only needs to invoke a data query pulse when actually transferring data, keeping the power use down when idle.

Current MacBooks use either Toshiba's X-gale or, more recently, an equivalent Samsung stick.

Apple doesn't need to use a solid-state drive with the relatively exotic technology. Modern SSDs can already meet or exceed 500MB per second and are using smaller processes than what Apple does now. The cost of Toggle DDR 2.0 is also unknown and may be affected by capacity: the original Toggle DDR tops out at 64GB and may expensive for the 256GB or more that Apple needs.

Apple's goal for the Air has been to get away from sheer capacity and to focus on a more iPad-like experience, where it boots quickly and loads apps almost instantly. The new ultraportable, which may ship July 14 with Lion, could be an indication of Apple's intended direction and should also rely on new Sandy Bridge-based Core i5 and i7 processors as well as Thunderbolt. [via AppleInsider]

By Electronista Staff

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computers, Toshiba, Samsung, MacBook Air, Core i7, Sandy Bridge, Apple, Core i5, X-gale, Thunderbolt