Plextor, a leading supplier of advanced digital storage devices, has announced the release of a special “Xtreme” firmware that boosts the input/output operations per second [IOPS] performance of the M5 Pro solid-state drives. The new firmware also brings in unique enterprise-grade double-data protection technology to the SSDs that are available at consumer prices.

The new Xtreme firmware update transforms the current M5 Pro into the M5 Pro Xtreme, a professional SSD capable of delivering random-read speeds up to 100 000 IOPS along with improved maximum random-write speeds of 88 000 IOPS, a 470MB/S sequential write speed, and an impressive 540MB/S sequential read. Just like the original M5 Pro, the M5 Pro Xtreme is based on Marvell 88SS9187 controller and Toshiba NAND flash memory with Toggle DDR interface made using 19nm process technology.

The M5 Pro Xtreme is the first drive to feature Plextor’s True Protect unique enterprise-grade double-data protection technology. The first element in True Protect is a multi-layer system to ensure the highest level of data integrity, combining the latest 128-bit error correction built into the Marvell controller with Plextor’s exclusive firmware-based Robust Data Hold-out algorithm. True Protect’s other element is protection against data theft using 256-bit AES full-drive encryption for maximum confidentiality. The M5 Pro Xtreme retains the features that define it as a true professional SSD; this includes a calculated mean time between failures of 2.4 million hours.

“When we set out to build the M5 Pro, we wanted to redefine professional standards for mean time between failures and data protection, rather than describe our existing levels as being professional. But what we’re finding is that a wide range of users from the enterprise market to hardcore gamers love the M5 Pro. Following the success of the drive we thought that we should reward our many users and add to the holiday joy by asking our firmware team to push the M5 Pro’s performance even higher. After all being a true professional does npt mean your performance should not be at the extreme,” said Minnie Lin, a marketing manager at Plextor.

This level of reliability of M5 Pro/M5 Pro Xtreme has been achieved through extensive development, strict quality control, and a stringent pre-production testing requirement of 400 drives passing 500 hours of intensive tests with zero errors.

Existing M5 Pro owners can take advantage of a free firmware update by visiting plextor.com web-site.

Tags: Plextor, Marvell, M5 Pro, M5 Pro Xtreme, SSD, NAND, Flash, 19nm, Toshiba