SMART Modular Technologies Selects SandForce(TM) Processor for Enterprise-Class Solid-State Drives

NEWARK, CA--(Marketwire - September 22, 2009) - SMART Modular Technologies (WWH), Inc. ("SMART" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SMOD), a leading independent manufacturer of memory modules, solid-state drives, embedded computing subsystems, and TFT-LCD display products, today announced it has selected the SandForce SF-1500 solid-state drive (SSD) processor for use in its next-generation enterprise-class XceedIOPS SATA SSDs.

The SF-1500 SSD processor enables industry-leading SSD performance, high reliability, and use of cost-effective multi-level cell (MLC) technology in enterprise storage systems. SSDs using SF-1500 SSD processors can sustain peak performance while consuming less than 2.5W, making them well suited for use in power-conscious datacenter applications.

"IT managers continue to seek ways to improve performance and total cost of ownership, without sacrificing system reliability and integrity," said Jeff Janukowicz, Research Manager, Hard Disk Drive Components and Solid State Drives at IDC. "Processors, like the SF-1500, are expected to enable the effective use of MLC NAND technology in the enterprise without sacrificing performance and reliability, thereby lowering the cost of solid-state storage. As the price gap between enterprise-class hard disk drives and MLC-based SSDs narrows, SSDs, such as SMART's XceedIOPS SSD, can help to reduce the total cost of ownership and accelerate the adoption of SSD technology in the enterprise."

IDC expects worldwide shipments of SSDs in the enterprise market to exceed 4.4 million units in 2013, representing a CAGR of 154% from 2008-2013. (IDC, Worldwide Solid State Drive 2009-2013 Forecast and Analysis, Doc # 218553, June 2009). "As this market continues to grow, SMART remains committed to providing the best storage solutions for our customers," said Alan Gulachenski, SMART's Vice President of Advanced Memory Solutions. "We are pleased to be implementing the SandForce SF-1500 SSD processor in our next-generation XceedIOPS SATA SSDs. It offers us impressive performance and low power consumption benefits as well as the opportunity to pass on the cost-benefits of MLC technology to our customers."

Featuring a SATA-II host interface connecting up to 512GB of MLC NAND flash memory, the SF-1500 SSD processor delivers up to 30K IOPS (random 4K read or write transfers), and up to 260MB/s (sequential 128KB read or write transfers) with 100µs latency. Unique DuraWrite™ technology enables peak performance throughout the life of the drive by optimizing the endurance of the SSD. The SF-1500 SSD processor also features DuraClass™ technology which combines powerful wear leveling, error correction, and RAISE™ (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) to guarantee high reliability and data integrity.

"Considering SMART's longstanding history as a memory and storage solutions provider to Tier-1 OEMs, we are excited to support them as an early adopter of our technology," said Steffen Hellmold, Vice President Business Development for SandForce. "We expect that our SF-1500 SSD processor will bring tangible competitive advantages to SMART's new SSD product offering."

SMART XceedIOPS SATA SSDs that include the SandForce SF-1500 SSD processor will be sampling in both 1.8" and 2.5" form factors later this year. For more information about SMART's products, visit www.smartm.com.

About SMART

SMART Modular Technologies is a leading provider of memory products, offering more than 500 standard and custom products to top-tier OEMs in the computer, industrial, networking, and telecommunications sectors. Taking innovations from the design stage through manufacturing and delivery, SMART has developed a comprehensive memory product line that includes DRAM, SRAM, and Flash in various form factors. Under its Adtron brand, SMART also offers high performance, high capacity solid-state drives for enterprise, defense/aerospace, industrial automation, medical, and transportation markets. SMART's Display and Embedded Products Group designs, manufactures and sells thin film transistors (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) solutions to customers developing casino gaming systems as well as embedded applications such as kiosk, ATM, point-of-service, and industrial control systems. SMART's presence in the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America enables it to provide its customers with proven expertise in international logistics, asset management, and supply-chain management worldwide. More information on SMART may be obtained at www.smartm.com.

About SandForce

SandForce is transforming data storage by pioneering the use of commodity flash memory in enterprise and client computing applications with its innovative SSD (Solid State Drive) Processors. By delivering unprecedented reliability, performance, and energy efficiency, SSDs based on patent-pending SandForce DuraClass technology unleash the full potential for mass-market adoption of SSDs using NAND flash memory. Founded in 2006, SandForce is funded by leading venture capital investors and first tier storage companies. For more information, visit SandForce at www.sandforce.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release, that are not statements of historical fact, including any statements that use the words "will," "believes," "anticipates," "project," "estimates," "expects," "intends" or similar words that describe the Company's or its management's future plans, objectives, or goals, are "forward-looking statements" and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include those related to the Company's business strategies and product plans, the timing of product and sample availability, the size and growth rate of the enterprise market for SSDs, the market for the Company's products, product performance, and customers' cost savings.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results and/or from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the post-closing integration of the businesses and product lines of SMART and Adtron, design, production or manufacturing difficulties, competitive factors, failure to meet protocols or MIL qualification, new products and technological changes, fluctuations in product prices and raw material costs, dependence upon third-party vendors (including the performance of their products supplied to the Company), customer demand, changes in industry standards or release plans, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 29, 2008, Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 28, 2008, Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 27, 2009, and Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 29, 2009. Such risk factors as outlined in our periodic report filings may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statement.

The Company operates in a continually changing business environment and new factors emerge from time to time. The Company cannot predict such factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, from such factors on the Company or its results. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. The Company is not obligated to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release.

SandForce, DuraClass, DuraWrite, and RAISE are trademarks of SandForce, Inc.

Contact Information: Contact: Joy Donohue SMART Modular Technologies (978) 805-2164