Developers of solid-state drives (SSD) and related components including Lite-On IT, LSI (formerly SandForce), Marvell, Phison Electronics and SanDisk are all gearing up to fulfill new orders placed by their PC clients for ultrabooks, according to supply-chain sources. The players are ready to ride the next wave of ultrabooks that will arrive in the second half of 2012, the sources indicated.

Acer will use SSDs manufactured by Lite-On and built with controllers developed by SandForce (now LSI) and Phison for its second-generation ultrabook series, the sources revealed. Acer has also received samples from Micron Technology and Toshiba, which are both looking to become Acer's second-source suppliers, the sources added.

Acer is expected to have more than one SSD supplier for 2.5-inch and mSATA parts, respectively, the sources speculated.

Asustek Computer will likely place most of its SSD orders for its upcoming ultrabooks with SanDisk, while Adata Technology should be its second priority, the sources said. It is also likely to see Asustek diversify its SSD sources as the company used to have at least 2-3 suppliers to minimize risks and also to give it more negotiating power, the sources pointed out.

Lenovo's recently-introduced IdeaPad U310 and U410 ultrabook models reportedly use SSDs developed by China-based Ramaxel Technology and related controllers manufactured by SandForce, according to the sources. Lenovo has also selected SanDisk's mSATA SSD devices for the new ThinkPad Edge E430 and E530 notebooks.

Dell is expected to continue working with Lite-On IT, using the Taiwan-based supplier's SSDs with Marvell's controller chips for its upcoming ultrabook models, the sources said.