"When a user requests that data, rather than being limited to servicing 100-200 requests per second (as with a traditional HDD), Samsung's SSD can service up to 5000 request per second, virtually eliminating data seek delays," Samsung stated in a news release.

The 4GB SSD can also work in tandem with a hybrid hard drive -- flash memory combined with spinning disk -- to be used as a secondary source of cached data.

The flash cache complements DRAM, and because Windows Vista automatically compresses all data stored in a ReadyBoost device, the 4GB drive would, in practice, act as though it were holding up to 8GB of user data.

The new drive can also be used in applications other than Vista for tasks related to special industrial needs.

Pricing and availability information was not immediately available.