KLEVV today announced the CRAS C925 line of mid-range M.2 NVMe SSDs. Built in the M.2-2280 form-factor, these drives take advantage of the PCI-Express 4.0 x4 host interface, to provide sequential transfer speeds of up to 7400 MB/s reads, and up to 6500 MB/s sequential writes, depending on the model. There are three of these based on capacity—500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. All three offer up to 7400 MB/s sequential reads, while the maximum write speeds are up to 6200 MB/s for the 500 GB model, up to 6300 MB/s for the 1 TB model, and up to 6500 MB/s for the 2 TB model. Both the 500 GB and 1 TB models offer up to 670,000 IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 980,000 IOPS random writes; while the 2 TB model does up to 700,000 IOPS random reads, with up to 1 million IOPS random writes.

The KLEVV CRAS C925 combines a MaxioTech MAP1602 DRAMless controller with an unspecified brand of 3D TLC NAND flash memory. The drive features a single-sided design, in that even the top 2 TB model has all its components on one side of the PCB. You can use the included aluminium heat-spreader that reduces temperatures by 12%, or the heatsink your motherboard includes. KLEVV rates the write endurance of these drives at 600 TBW for the 500 GB model, 1,200 TBW for the 1 TB model, and 2,400 TBW for the 2 TB model. The company is backing the drives with a 5-year warranty. The company didn't reveal pricing, but mentioned that the drives will be available from May 2024.

At Embedded World 2024 in Nuremberg, Germany, industrial grade storage brand KingSpec (also known as YANSEN) presented its 2.5" SSD specialized for in-vehicle storage solutions. Embedded World serves as a global platform gathering industry-leading enterprises, technologies, and experts. At this exhibition, YANSEN showcased a solution specifically designed for in vehicle, rail transit and surveillance industries. With the rapid growth of electric vehicles and intelligent connected cars, the demand for reliable, high-capacity in-vehicle data storage is soaring. Secure storage solutions are becoming more essential. YANSEN's 2.5" in-vehicle SSD is engineered specifically for challenging transportation applications.

Rail transit operations face challenging conditions, requiring storage hardware capable of enduring wide temperature ranges, vibrations, and humidity. The 2.5" in-vehicle SSD has undergone rigorous testing beyond industry standards, with an operating temperature range of 0°C to 70°C and an MTBF exceeding 2 million hours. The product features conformal coating and underfill dispensing design to ensure data integrity even in extreme environments.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce their lineup of products to be shown at the 2024 NAB Show, from April 14-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Lexar products deliver the high-speed performance that professional videographers, filmmakers, and creators demand in their cameras while also accelerating workflows.
Lexar's new Rugged Series includes the ARMOR GOLD SD UHS-II V60 Card. This card offers a max read speed of 280 MB/s and a max write speed of 210 MB/s, features an IP68 rating, and supports seamless 6K video capture. The ARMOR SILVER PRO SD UHS-II V60 Card also clocks in at a max read speed of 280 MB/s and delivers a write speed of 160 MB/s. It is also rated IP68 and supports 6K video as well. In the SSD category, the ARMOR 700 Portable SSD leverages USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 to provide max read/write speeds of 2000 MB/s1 and an IP66 rating lets users know that its design protects against both water and dust and is built to withstand up to 3-meter drops and falls.

Lexar is also excited to announce a new line of products dedicated to improving the professional workflow. The Lexar Professional PRO WORKFLOW is a 6-bay dock designed to maximize efficiency in the studio by allowing professionals to customize a solution with the modules they need. It is compatible with a range of WORKFLOW readers for CFexpress Type B and Type A 4.0 cards, SD and microSD UHS-II cards, and portable SSDs. It adopts Thunderbolt 4 and supports speeds up to 40 Gbps. The Lexar Professional PRO WORKFLOW GO is a portable solution that allows users to back up on location without a laptop. This 2-bay dock is battery-powered and supports speeds up to 10 Gbps.

Micron Technology, Inc., today announced it is sampling the automotive-grade Micron 4150AT SSD, the world's first quad-port SSD, capable of interfacing with up to four systems on chips (SoCs) to centralize storage for software-defined intelligent vehicles. The Micron 4150AT SSD combines market-leading features such as single-root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV), a PCIe Generation 4 interface and ruggedized automotive design. With these features, the automotive-grade SSD provides the ecosystem with data center-level flexibility and power.

"As storage requirements race to keep up with rich in-vehicle experiences featuring AI and advanced algorithms for higher levels of autonomous safety, this era demands a new paradigm for automotive storage to match," said Michael Basca, Micron vice president of embedded products and systems. "Building on our collaboration with the innovators redefining next-generation automotive architectures, Micron has reimagined storage from the ground up to deliver the world's first quad-port SSD - the Micron 4150AT - which provides the industry flexibility and horsepower to roll out the transformative technologies on the horizon."

Sabrent today debuted the Rocket 4 line of DRAMless M.2 NVMe Gen 4 SSDs. Built in the M.2-2280 form-factor, these drives take advantage of the PCI-Express 4.0 x4 host interface, and provide sequential transfer speeds of up to 7.4 GB/s reads, with up to 6.4 GB/s writes. The drives also offer 4K random access performance of up to 1 million IOPS reads, and 0.95 million IOPS writes. For now, Sabrent is launching 1 TB and 2 TB capacity variants of the Rocket 4, but the company is preparing to launch a larger 4 TB variant soon.

The Sabrent Rocket 4 combines a Phison E27T series DRAMless controller with Kioxia 162-layer 3D TLC NAND flash memory (also known as the BiCS 6). There's just a copper foil heat spreader to keep things cool. The 12 nm E27T doesn't run anywhere near as hot as the E18, so you can make do with the heatsink your motherboard includes, or run it the way it is. The 1 TB variant is priced at $99.99, and the 2 TB variant at $199.99. The company didn't reveal pricing of the unreleased 4 TB variant.

YMTC X3-6070 3D QLC NAND flash chips are claimed by the company to offer endurance comparable to 3D TLC NAND flash chips from its competitors, ITHome reports. The company launched the new NAND flash chip at an event earlier this week. The X3-6070 is based on YMTC's 3rd Generation Xtracking architecture, and is 128-layer, which may not sound very competitive, given that other brands have moved up to 176-layer, or 232-layer; but YMTC says that the 128-layer design-choice is one of the four key ingredients to achieving high endurance for this chip.

The other three ingredients are innovations in the materials making up the NAND flash physical layer, new error-correction algorithms, and optimizations at the level of the SSD controller. The X3-6070 can sustain 4,000 P/E cycles per cell, YMTC claims, which is in league of contemporary 3D TLC NAND flash chips. It is able to do so, at lower costs from the QLC architecture. Besides the X3-6070, YMTC also launched a few first-party reference design SSDs that fully implement the controller-level optimizations needed for the chip to perform and endure as advertised.

Cervoz brings its new storage solution to industrial applications with the launch of its new T425 Series M.2 NVMe SSDs-M.2 2230 (B+M) and M.2 2242 (B+M). Available in the compact 2230 and 2242 form factors, these PCIe Gen3x2 SSDs pack impressive performance into small footprints. Engineered for reliability and efficiency, the T425 Series provides industrial-grade solutions for embedded systems and space-constrained applications.

Space-Saving Form Factors for Seamless Integration
The tiny size of the T425 Series SSDs enables easy integration into small, fanless devices where internal space is limited. From in-vehicle systems and handheld scanners to medical equipment and industrial PCs, these SSDs allow seamless upgrades without compromising capacity or performance.

Add two super fast NVMe SSDs to your Raspberry Pi 5. Ideal if you need redundancy or just a load more storage on your RPi. NVMe Base Duo is a PCIe Gen 2 extension board for Raspberry Pi 5. Simply populate it with one or two M-key NVMe SSDs (2230 to 2280 sizes supported) and mount it under (or over) your Pi for a compact and fast storage solution. It even comes with rubber feet!

It's the perfect solution for turning your Raspberry Pi 5 into a file server, media center, reverse proxy, etc.—really any task that benefits from large amounts of fast storage, redundancy, or just to make use of a couple of spare disk—especially with random high operations per second (IOPS) workloads. In short, it's a game changer! NVMe Base Duo is now available for pre-order with the first batch of units shipping in mid-April. For a lot more detail about NVMe Base Duo and to reserve your unit click here.

Sabrent today launched the Rocket Nano V2 portable SSD series. The drive measures 15 mm x 33 mm x 73 mm in size (HxDxW), weighing just 54 g, with the included silicone sleeve, and 11.9 mm x 29.6 mm x 69.5 mm, weighing 46 g, without the sleeve. It comes in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities, and uses a single USB type-C cable connection for both power and host connectivity.

Both USB-C to USB-C, and USB-C to USB-A cables are included in the package. At the interface level, the Sabrent Rocket Nano V2 takes advantage of 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. It offers sequential transfer speeds of up to 1500 MB/s for both reads and writes. Available now, the 1 TB variant is priced at USD $119.99, the 2 TB variant at $199.99, and the 4 TB variant at $449.99.

Samsung is partnering with Square Enix to launch a limited collector's edition package of the 990 PRO 2 TB SSD co-branded with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (FFVII Rebirth). The package consists of a special 180 mm x 180 mm x 175 mm (WxDxH) cuboidal box with branding and imagery from FFVII Rebirth characters. Inside, you'll find a Samsung 990 PRO 2 TB M.2 NVMe SSD with its reference heatsink. The heatsink makes the drive compatible with the PlayStation 5. There are no changes in the specs of the drive—it offers 2 TB of storage with a 2 GB LPDDR4 DRAM cache, and transfer speeds of up to 7450 MB/s sequential reads, and up to 6950 MB/s sequential writes, making it among the fastest Gen 4 SSDs in the market. But that's it with the bundle—you don't actually get the game, but a special edition box that can make for a good background prop if you're streaming. The limited collector's edition is expected to come out some time in March 2024.

GIGABYTE today introduced the Gen 4 4000E line of value M.2 NVMe SSDs that take advantage of the PCI-Express Gen 4 host interface, as it says on the tin. These drives form the company's new entry level M.2 NVMe SSD series. The drive comes in 250 GB, 500 GB, and 1 TB capacities, and are really targeted at the crowd that likes to pick up well-priced processor+motherboard+DRAM+SSD bundles in the DIY retail channel. The company didn't specify controller and NAND flash type, but we gather from the specs sheet that it uses a DRAMless controller.

The 1 TB variant (model: G440E1TB) offers sequential speeds of up to 4 GB/s reads, with up to 3.9 GB/s sequential writes. The 500 GB and 250 GB variants offer speeds that don't really need Gen 4 bandwidth. The 500 GB model (G440E500G) does up to 3.6 GB/s sequential reads, with up to 3 GB/s sequential writes. The 250 GB (G440E250G) model offers 3.5 GB/s reads, with up to 1.8 GB/s sequential writes. Endurance is rated at 320 TBW for the 1 TB model, 300 TBW for the 500 GB model, and 150 TBW for the 250 GB model. All three models are backed by 3-year warranties. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Seizing the Edge: Cervoz Adapts to Shifting Data Landscape—The rapid emergence of technologies like AIoT and 5G and their demand for high-speed data processing has accelerated the data transition from the cloud to the edge. This shift exposes data to unpredictable environments with extreme temperature variations, vibrations, and space constraints, making it critical for edge devices to thrive in these settings. Cervoz strategically targets the blooming edge computing sector by introducing an extensive array of compact product lines, enhancing its existing SSDs, DRAM, and Modular Expansion Cards to meet the unique needs of edge computing.

Cervoz Reveals NVMe M.2 SSDs and Connectivity Solutions to Power the Edge
Cervoz introduces its latest compact PCIe Gen. 3x2 SSD offerings, the T421 M.2 2242 (B+M key) and T425 M.2 2230 (A+E key). These space-efficient design and low power consumption feature offer exceptional performance, catering to the storage needs of fanless embedded PCs and motherboards for purpose-built edge applications. Cervoz is also leading the way in developing connectivity solutions, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Serial, USB, and CAN Bus all available in M.2 2230 (A+E key) and M.2 2242/2260/2280 (B+M) form factors. The M.2 (B+M key) 2242/2260/2280 card is a versatile three-in-one solution designed for maximum adaptability. While it initially comes in a 2280 form factor, it can be easily adjusted to fit 2260 or 2242 sizes. It offers an effortless upgrade of existing systems without sacrificing connection capability, especially in edge devices.

Solid State Disks Ltd. (SSDL), a leading manufacturer of solid-state-drives (SSDs) and a value-added reseller (VAR) of latest-technology Flash and DRAM solutions, has launched SCSIFlash-Fast, a swap-in upgrade/replacement for electromechanical hard disk drives (HDDs) that use the SCSI interface. Initially available with 68- and 80-pin connectors and write speeds of up to 80 MB/s, SCSIFlash-Fast uses proven SCSI drive architecture and industrial CFast or M.2 SSD memory (with storage capacities ranging from 2 GB to 1 TB). The drive features configurable hardware, allowing the OEMs of (or those responsible for maintaining) legacy systems to replace or upgrade obsolete HDDs that were made in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, and improve system reliability and security.

James Hilken, SSDL's Sales & Marketing Director, says: "There are several computer-based systems in use within aerospace, defense, manufacturing, medical, telecommunications and other sectors that were designed decades ago and were fitted with then state-of-the-art SCSI hard disk drives. With their moving parts, these long-obsolete drives are increasingly failing. Our SCSIFlash-Fast drive is a highly reliable swap-in replacement for virtually any SCSI hard disk drive that's more than 20 years old." SCSIFlash-Fast is configured to order and can replicate the exact behavior of the SCSI HDD it replaces, meaning no modifications need to be made to the host system; which in many cases must not be modified (i.e. its functionality has been certified) or it is simply not cost-effective to do so. With SSDL's SCSIFlash-Fast, the SCSI version is set to that of the host system (SASI, SCSI-1, SCSI-2 or Ultra3) and the disk sector size is set to 256, 512, 768, 1024, 2048 or 4096. Other configurations can also be applied, including the preloading of data.

With the advent of high-resolution video and surveillance systems, the demand for stable performance (Sustained Performance) and Power Loss Protection in SSD storage devices continues to rise among video recording equipment and surveillance system integrators. Therefore, Phison Electronics (8299TT), a leading provider of NAND controllers and NAND storage solutions, today announced the launch of specialized SSD storage solutions for video and surveillance systems, including the mid-high-range S12DI and the cost-effective S17T SSD solutions.

With the advent of high-resolution video and surveillance systems, the demand for stable performance (Sustained Performance) and Power Loss Protection in SSD storage devices continues to rise among video recording equipment and surveillance system integrators. Therefore, Phison Electronics (8299TT), a leading provider of NAND controllers and NAND storage solutions, today announced the launch of specialized SSD storage solutions for video and surveillance systems, including the mid-high-range S12DI and the cost-effective S17T SSD solutions.

CORSAIR, a world leader in enthusiast components for gamers, creators, and PC builders, today announced the launch of the MP600 ELITE series of SSDs. The MP600 ELITE series is a lineup of high-performance PCIe 4.0 SSD available with a range of cooling options to ensure you get the most from your storage whether you're running a desktop PC, a laptop, or a Sony PlayStation 5 console.

Built using high-density 3D TLC NAND and available in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities at launch, with 4 TB models coming in April, the MP600 ELITE series offers impressive sequential read performance of up to 7,000 MB/sec and write performance of up to 6,500 MB/sec. This is bolstered by random read and write speeds of up to 1,000K and 1,200K IOPS respectively, making them ideal for gamers, creators, and hardware enthusiasts seeking impressive performance on a PCIe 4.0 platform. These SSDs are also backwards compatible with PCIe 3.0 systems.

You can check out our review: Corsair MP600 Elite 2 TB Review - The new Phison E27T Tested

In addition to the 37 Gbps GDDR7 memory, Samsung Electronics prepares to showcase several other memory innovations at the 2024 IEEE-SSCC as compiled by VideoCardz. To begin with, the company is showcasing a new 280-layer 3D QLC NAND flash memory in the 1 Tb density, enabling next generation of mainstream SSDs and smartphone storage. This chip offers an areal density of 28.5 Gb/mm², and a speed of 3.2 GB/s. To put this into perspective, the fastest 3D NAND flash types powering the current crop of flagship NVMe SSDs rely on 2.4 GB/s of I/O data rates.

Next up, is a new generation DDR5 memory chip offers data rates of DDR5-8000 with a density of 32 Gbit (4 GB). This chip uses a symmetric-mosaic DRAM cell architecture, and is built on a 5th generation 10 nm class foundry node Samsung optimized for DRAM products. What's impressive about this chip is that it will allow PC memory vendors to build 32 GB and 48 GB DIMMs in single-rank configuration with DDR5-8000 speeds; as well as 64 GB and 96 GB DIMMs in dual-rank configuration (impressive, provided your platform can play well with DDR5-8000 in dual-rank).

T-FORCE, the gaming brand of Team Group Inc., the world's leading memory and storage provider, today announced the release of the new generation of Gen 5 SSDs, the T-FORCE GE PRO PCIe 5.0 SSDs. This much-anticipated SSD is powered by InnoGrit's newest 12 nm, multi-core, and low-wattage IG5666 controller, equipped with a patented ultra-thin graphene heatsink and has read speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s. Supported by smart cooling and state-of-the-art error correction technologies, the T-FORCE GE PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD provides gamers with the next level of peak performance.

The T-FORCE GE PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD features InnoGrit's latest 12 nm, IG5666 controller, which has multiple cores and low power consumption. The SSD's read speed maxes out at 14,000 MB/s, and equipped with an enhanced controller feature called Security Isolation that utilizes isolation technology to protect data from external attacks, providing a reliable, multi-faceted defense. The GE PRO SSD also supports smart power management and thermal regulation technology, which detects different workload conditions through internal temperature sensing and automatically adjusts the power management mode to prevent overheating. The T-FORCE GE PRO PCIe 5.0 SSD enhances data transfer accuracy by correcting data errors with the brand new 4K LDPC (Low-Density Parity-Check Code) technology. It also supports Team Group's patented S.M.A.R.T. monitoring software, allowing gamers to monitor the health and performance of the SSD at any time.

The PC master race has yielded many interesting activities for enthusiasts alike, with perhaps the pinnacle of activities being overclocking. Usually, subjects for overclocking include CPUs, GPUs, and RAM, with other components not actually being capable of overclocking. However, the enthusiast force never seems to settle, and today, we have proof of overclocking an off-the-shelf 2.5-inch SATA III NAND Flash SSD thanks to Gabriel Ferraz, a Computer Engineering graduate, and TechPowerUp's SSD database maintainer. He uses the RZX Pro 256 GB SSD in the video, a generic NAND Flash drive. The RZX Pro uses the Silicon Motion SM2259XT2 single-core, 32-bit ARC CPU running up to 550 MHz. It has two channels at 400 MHz, each with eight chip enable interconnects, allowing up to 16 NAND Flash dies to operate. The SSD doesn't feature a DRAM cache or support a host memory buffer. It has only one NAND Flash memory chip from Kioxia, uses BiCS FLASH 4 architecture, has 96 layers, and has 256 GB capacity.

While this NAND Flash die is rated for up to 400 MHz or 800 MT/s, it only ran at less than half the speed at 193.75 MHz or 387.5 MT/s at default settings. Gabriel acquired a SATA III to USB 3.0 adapter with a JMS578 bridge chip to perform the overclock. This adapter allows hot swapping of SSDs without the need to turn off the PC. He shorted two terminals in the drive's PCB to get the SSD to operate without its default safe mode. Mass Production Tools (MPTools), which OEMs use to flash SSDs, were used to change the firmware settings. Each NAND Flash architecture has its own special version of MPTools. The software directly shows control of the Flash clock, CPU clock, and output driving. However, additional tweaks like Flash IO driving with subdivisions need modifications. Control and Flash On-Die Termination (ODT) and Schmitt window trigger (referring to the Schmitt trigger comparator circuit) also needed a few modifications to make it work.

Lexar, the leading consumer storage brand announces a collaboration with Silicon Motion, forming a significant partnership that will combine Lexar self-developed storage products with Silicon Motion industry-leading controller chips. This alliance aims to optimize portable storage solutions and enhance product competitiveness. During the first quarter of 2024, Lexar will be launching two Portable Solid-State Drive (PSSD) products.

The portable SSD single-chip controller solution from Silicon Motion, which combines integrated hardware, software, and data security features and is equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface and four NAND channels, is utilized in both new devices. It meets the demands of game consoles and users who require high performance and low power consumption. These two new products are also highly portable and offer ample storage space due to the single-chip controller solution's compact size and increased storage capacity.

At CES 2024, Frore Systems, the pioneering developer of AirJet Mini, the world's first Solid-State Active Cooling Chip, unveiled the AirJet Mini Slim - a thinner, lighter, smarter and even more advanced solid-state active cooling chip.

Building on the success of the original AirJet Mini, which garnered widespread recognition, including the prestigious COMPUTEX 2023 Golden Award and CES 2024 "Best of Innovation" Award, Frore Systems continues to accelerate the pace of innovation in thermal management. The AirJet Mini Slim, featuring the same groundbreaking solid-state active cooling design of its predecessor, includes three new features, while remaining silent, lightweight and delivering superior heat removal compared to traditional fans.

MSI Spatium M580 Liquid Frozr is easily one of the most interesting SSDs we've come across in CES 2024. Picture this—an M.2-2280 SSD that has a self-contained liquid cooler, complete with a fan, radiator, a pump-block, and coolant channels. This is both cute and a little sad. M.2 SSDs were supposed to stay out of sight and be completely cable-free, like DIMMs. This isn't MSI's fault, they have to use the fastest controllers in the market, which are built on older 12 nm foundry nodes. PCI-Express 5.0 x4 is comparable bandwidth to PCI-Express 3.0 x16, and moving this kind of data is bound to generate heat for an SSD controller. Enough banter—the Spatium M580 uses the fastest Phison E26 Max14um controller, with Micron's fastest B58R 232-layer 3D NAND flash chips that deliver 2400 MT/s per flash channel.

The combination of Phison Max14um and B58R results in sequential transfer speeds beyond the 14 GB/s mark, which is where most PCIe Gen 5 x4 drives will end up accounting for the interface+protocol overhead. The theoretical max bandwidth of Gen 5 x4 is 16 GB/s. The drive comes in capacities of up to 4 TB. As for the cooler's design, the bare drive makes contact with a copper cold-plate, which has the block+reservoir, with a tiny pump. This sends coolant through a real aluminium heat-exchanger—this is probably the smallest radiator we've ever seen. The radiator is held up, a supporting structure has a tiny 20 mm lateral-flow fan, which blows air through the radiator. We can't wait to review this thing!

BIWIN is a major memory and SSD OEM that manufactures products for leading PC brands, including Lenovo, HP, and Acer. These include everything from USB flash drives, to portable SSDs; and even memory DIMMs. Acer has been trying to enter the DIY hardware market in a big way with its Predator brand, it's tapping into BIWIN for the memory side of things. We've had the Acer Predator Hermes DDR5 RGB series at the high-end; and the Pallas II DDR5 series at the entry level, and Acer is looking to fill the gap with the Vesta II DDR5 series. The original Vesta II series won a Red Dot design award in 2022. The Vesta II comes in certain upper mid-range speeds of DDR5-6000, DDR5-6400, DDR5-6600, and DDR5-6800; with capacities that include 32 GB (2x 16), and 64 GB (2x 32 GB). We also ran into some SSDs that strick to Acer's main marquee, which includes the FA200, a PCIe Gen 4 drive, which is based on a high-end Gen 4 platform, with speeds of up to 7.2 GB/s sequential reads, and up to 6.2 GB/s sequential writes. The drive comes in capacities of up to 4 TB.

Switching gears, we see the first Lenovo-branded DIY client SSDs in the retail channel. The LN960 is a fairly premium M.2-2280 drive with a Gen 4 x4 interface, capacities of up to 4 TB, sequential speeds of up to 7.4 GB/s, and a graphene-based heatspreader. The LN860 is an entry-level NVMe drive based on a Gen 3 x4 interface, with sequential speeds of up to 3.5 GB/s. The LS800 is is being offered more as an upgrade option for those still on older machines with a 2.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s drive bay. It comes in capacities of up to 1.92 TB, has modern SLC caching technology, and offers sequential speeds of up to 520 MB/s.

Patriot Memory brought their latest ware to the 2024 International CES that use recent advancements in tech on both the SSD and memory fronts. On the SSD front, this year sees 14 GB/s capable PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSDs thanks to Phison's E26 Max14um controller; and a new crop of USB4 portable SSDs; while the memory front sees DDR5 speeds go far north of DDR5-6000, thanks to on-module CKDs. Patriot showed us examples of each.

First up, there's the Patriot Viper PV573 Gen 5 NVMe SSD. This thing comes in capacities of up to 4 TB, and combines a Phison E26 Max14um controller with Micron's latest B58R TLC NAND flash chips that offer 2400 MT/s per flash channel. The controller also gets some incremental thermal optimizations, which means the cooling solution for the PV573 is a 16.5 mm-tall fan-heatsink. The drive offers up to 14 GB/s sequential reads, with up to 12 GB/s sequential writes. There's also a slightly de-rated version of this drive, the Viper PV553, which has the same combination of controller and NAND flash, but with transfer speeds of up to 12.4 GB/s reads, with up to 11.8 GB/s writes.

Next week at CES 2024, KIOXIA, the inventors of NAND flash, will highlight its extensive portfolio of solid state drives (SSDs) and memory solutions. This diverse lineup - one of the broadest range of flash solutions in the industry - is well-suited to virtually any solution that uses flash and includes new products, form factors and standards designed for upcoming IT requirements.

In today's dynamic technological landscape, where evolving standards push performance boundaries higher and end user expectations continue to climb, KIOXIA stands poised for the future by making the memory to process, manage and store the world's data. "Whether it's designing ultra-thin consumer PCs, enabling the automotive in-vehicle experience or streamlining professional photography - we make flash memory that brings applications to life and enhances user experiences," said Alex Mei, vice president of corporate marketing for KIOXIA America, Inc. "Countless consumer devices and applications rely on KIOXIA technology solutions to enrich lives and make new memories. CES gives us an opportunity to explore new possibilities and showcase the depth and breadth of our solutions."

Plextor, one of the most iconic names in PC storage once known for high performance and quality, has announced it will cease operations. Parent company Kioxia has decided to retire the Plextor brand name for solid state drives (SSDs). Instead, it will market products under its Solid State Storage Technology Corporation (SSSTC) brand going forward. The move comes after Kioxia acquired Plextor and its parent company Lite-On's SSD business back in 2019. Since then, Plextor has struggled to keep pace with new storage technologies. With PCIe Gen 4 and PCIe Gen 5 SSD controllers coming to market, Plextor failed to adopt the new Phison and InnoGrit platforms, instead sticking with Marvell controllers, lagging behind at that time.

Now, SSSTC and Kioxia will strictly focus SSD sales on the enterprise, data center, and industrial segments rather than the consumer market. The Plextor website is already redirecting to SSSTC.com, which no longer lists any drives for client PCs. While current Plextor SSD owners will continue to receive warranty support and RMA services, no new Plextor drives are expected to be released. The company had a history stretching back over 30 years of making top-performing optical disk drives and SSDs. Similarly to OCZ after its acquisition by Toshiba, the Plextor name will now fade into history. But in the fast-moving storage business, companies live and die by their ability to adopt cutting-edge technologies. Hence, companies are always on the edge of their seats, trying to survive.