OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express ups MacBook Air to 480GB drive
updated 03:40 pm EST, Fri January 27, 2012
OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express gets 480GB version
Other World Computing has answered one of the more common calls among MacBook Air owners and has put out a 480GB version of its Mercury Aura Pro Express. The new solid-state drive doubles the storage of its SATA3-based, 6Gbps model line. As with other SSDs, more capacity doesn't mean a sacrifice in speed, and it can deliver as much as 500MB per second in peak transfer speeds.
Apple's stock SSDs in current-generation Airs usually stop at around half the maximum speed. OWC gets to the faster speed by using a modern SandForce memory controller. Although it doesn't officially support the TRIM command to optimize the drive, it's touted as having its own data block management techniques to keep the SSD fast throughout its lifespan.
The drive works with either size of MacBook Air and has a cost roughly in line with other 480GB SSDs at about $1,149. Users have to install the drive themselves, but they're given instructions and a three-year warranty in case the drive itself is faulty. OWC is shipping today.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
Expensive?
Hard to say. But I do know this, OWC has been at the top of our Go-To list for reasonably priced, quality, aftermarket memory, drives and other accessories for the Mac since 1993! I can't say enough about what a great company they are.