As a result of a strategic partnership between chip giant Intel and retail biggie Best Buy, Intel’s solid state drives (SSDs) will soon hit the consumer market – to be available at retail in nearly 800 Best Buy stores as well as online.

According to the information forwarded to Betanews by Best Buy representatives, initially two Intel X25 SSDs will be available for brick and mortar customers – a $130-priced 40GB model, and a $230-priced 80GB model. In addition, a $450-priced 160GB model will also be sold ‘only online’ by Best Buy.

Noting that the SSDs use a kind of storage similar to a camera’s SD card - rather than the spinning platters used by regular hard drives – to boast enhanced speeds, Intel said that the forthcoming drives will offer consumers an affordable entry into the SSD arena.

Intel further said that an SSD by the company “delivers up to 56 percent improvement in system responsiveness for gamers, multimedia enthusiasts or anyone desiring to get more performance out of their new or existing notebook or desktop computer.”

With reference to the inherent advantages of the Intel SSDs – products which essentially fortified Intel’s position as a leading chip maker - Best Buy’s computing VP Jason Bonfig stated that these drives will only be increasingly adopted by a growing number of consumers, once they realize the speed benefits offered by these drives.