Silicon Power (SP) is releasing its latest PCIe Gen3 x4 SSD, the XD80, available in massive storage capacities up to 2 TB. It is the ideal solution for performance enthusiasts building custom gaming rigs or desktops. Featuring SLC Caching and DRAM Cache Buffer, the XD80 peels rubber with blazing read/write speeds up to 3,400/3,000 MB/s, respectively. Its high-speed PCIe Gen3 x4 interface leaves traditional SATA III SSDs behind in the dust, giving hardcore gamers the competitive edge they need to secure the win.

With NVMe 1.3 support, the XD80 delivers higher performance, lower latency, and lower power consumption for the smoothest gameplay without any lag. The durable aluminium heatsink provides maximum heat dissipation and thermal management. In fact, compared to SSDs without a heatsink, the XD80 keeps temperatures as much as 20% lower, maintaining its stability.

Patriot Memory's gaming brand, Viper Gaming, today announced the VP4300 series M.2 NVMe SSDs that take advantage of the PCI-Express 4.0 x4 bus. The drives combine Innogrit IG5236 controllers with 3D TLC NAND flash memory, and come in 1 TB and 2 TB capacity variants. On offer are sequential transfer rates of up to 7400 MB/s sequential reads, with up to 6800 MB/s writes for the 2 TB variant, and up to 5500 MB/s writes for the 1 TB variant; along with 4K random access performance of up to 800,000 IOPS.

The Viper VP4300 comes with two thermal solutions in the box. You can choose to run it bare (in notebooks, where it might thermal-throttle); with a thin copper heatspreader that uses a graphene-based thermal pad, or a slightly thicker aluminium heatsink. The drives are backed by 5-year warranties.

Update Apr 16th: Patriot reports that the 1 TB version will be priced at USD $254.99, and the 2 TB version at $499.99.

Novachips Co., Ltd., an innovator in flash storage solutions, today announced that it has started shipping a newcomer in its SCALAR Series of high-capacity SSDs. The new entrant, SCALAR-20T, is a 2.5-inch SATA MLC (Multi-Level Cell) 20 TB SSD that is entirely based on in-house hardware and firmware. SCALAR-20T utilizes Novachips' NVS3800 controller, and no third-party components—including JBOD and RAID component chips—are built into the device.

Since launching the world's first 2.5-inch SATA and NVMe MLC 8 TB in 2015, Novachips has consistently broken new ground in the massive capacity flash storage arena. The standard bus topology interface between SSD controllers and NAND flash memory has proven a limiting factor in flash storage capacity innovation. Novachips has resolved this structural problem by using a unique point-to-point ring topology. This technology has helped Novachips build its most recent, 20 TB capacity SSD, without compromising on performance or reliability from channel noise over its guaranteed lifetime.

KIOXIA today announced that its lineup of CM6 Series PCIe 4.0 enterprise NVMe SSDs has been successfully tested and certified to support NVIDIA's Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage. Modern AI and data science applications are synonymous with massive datasets - as are the storage requirements that go along with them. Part of the NVIDIA Magnum IO subsystem designed for GPU-accelerated compute environments, NVIDIA Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage allows the GPU to bypass the CPU and communicate directly with NVMe SSD storage. This improves overall system performance while reducing the impact on host CPU and memory resources. Through rigorous testing conducted by NVIDIA, KIOXIA's CM6 drives have been confirmed to meet the demanding storage requirements of GPU-intensive applications.

Large AI/ML, HPC modeling and data analytics datasets need to be moved and processed in real-time, pushing performance requirements through the roof," said Neville Ichhaporia, vice president, SSD marketing and product management for KIOXIA America, Inc. "By delivering speeds up to 16.0 gigatransfers per second throughput per lane, our CM6 Series SSDs enable NVIDIA's Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage to work with increasingly large and distributed datasets, thereby improving overall application performance and providing a path to scaling dataset sizes even further."

At a media event in China, MSI unveiled a handful new products it hasn't yet launched globally. These include the ATX MEG Z590 Unify series, and the new Spatium line of high-end M.2 NVMe SSDs. The company already launched the MEG Z590I Unify Mini-ITX motherboard, which will soon be joined by the larger MEG Z590 Unify and the MEG Z590 Unify-X, in the standard ATX form-factor. Both these Unify motherboards are targeted at professional overclockers, and are armed with powerful 16+2 phase CPU VRM solutions that use 90 A DrMOS, 8-layer PCBs, a trio of PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slots (possibly using PCIe segmentation of the x16 PEG slot); and the company's latest Audio Boost 5 onboard audio solution.

What sets the MEG Z590 Unify apart from the Unify-X is that the latter features just two DDR4 DIMM slots, or one DIMM per memory channel. This is the most desirable topology for memory overclocking (and a reason why memory OC records are usually set on Mini-ITX motherboards). Next up, the company unveiled the Spatium series of high-end M.2 NVMe SSDs. Available with a number of heatsink (options?), these drives take advantage of PCI-Express 4.0 x4 host interface, and come in capacities of up to 4 TB. They use 3D TLC NAND flash, and offer sequential transfer rates of up to 7000 MB/s reads, with up to 6900 MB/s writes.

XPG, a fast-growing provider of systems, components, and peripherals for Gamers, E-sports Pros, and Tech Enthusiasts, announcesthe launch of the XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 2280 solid state drive (SSD). Sporting the latest PCIe Gen4 x4 interface and a host of other capabilities, this SSD delivers fast read/write speeds to meet the demands of gaming, graphics processing, and 5G applications. What's more, its unique heat sink design offers excellent thermal cooling for optimal performance and stability. Its compact M.2 2280 form factor makes it ideal for most laptop PCs, including Intel Evo certified laptops, and game consoles.

With the latest PCIe Gen4 interface, the GAMMIX S70 BLADE will help gamers dominate the competition with sequential read/write performance of up to 7400/6400 MB/s. This is up to two times faster than PCIe 3.0 SSDs and fifteen times faster than SATA SSDs. For ease of use, it is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0.The S70 BLADE is equipped with 3D NAND Flash for higher capacities (up to 2 TB) and enhanced efficiency and durability, and it is compliant with NVMe 1.4.

Gigabyte Technology, one of the top global manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, announces today the latest BIOS of B560 AORUS motherboards. Enhanced by the 12+1 phases DrMOS power stage with 60 Amps for each and full coverage VRM thermal design, B560 AORUS motherboards can support Intel Core i9 11900K (F) series processors overclocking to all cores 5.1 GHz. The exclusive anti-interference design of memory circuit enables DDR4 speed raising up to XMP 4800 MHz, and overclocking performance boost to DDR4 5300 MHz. which demonstrates GIGABYTE's strong R&D strength and persistence in quality. Users can enjoy the performance boost of time-limited overclocking by simply updating to the latest BIOS to meet their special needs.1

Intel B series chipset motherboards have been always excluded from overclocking due to the product positioning. Although the memory XMP overclocking is unlocked on 500 series, the processor frequency can only reach up to 4.8 GHz by Turbo Boost. Thanks to the efforts of Gigabyte's R&D team, the processor can be overclocked to 5.1 GHz and maintain low temperature under the Prime95 no AVX burn-in test. This powerful performance benefits from the top-quality materials of GIGABYTE AORUS motherboards and product design capabilities, which include 12+1 phases/ 60Apms DrMOS power stage, 6 layers 2Oz ultra-cool PCB, full-covered VRM thermal design, and the latest Smart Fan 6 technology for temperature control. These features allow processors to have a stable and pure power supply under ultra-high frequency operation, providing the most solid backing for the CPU limited-time overclocking.

SMART Modular Technologies, a subsidiary of SMART Global Holdings, Inc., (Nasdaq: SGH), has expanded its DuraFlash ME2 SATA SSD product family with the addition of M.2 2242 SATA, mSATA (MO-300A) and Slim SATA (MO-297A) that complement the current M.2 2280 and 2.5" SSD form factors in SMART's DuraFlash portfolio.

The new ME2 SATA SSD form factors are ideal for embedded computing, transportation, medical and industrial applications that require either smaller or legacy SSD form factors. Built with Triple-Level Cell (TLC) 3D NAND technology, they are available in both commercial (0 °C to 70 °C) and industrial (-40 °C to 85 °C) operating temperatures. The ME2 family SSDs provide enhanced reliability by incorporating advanced LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) error detection and correction, plus end-to-end data path protection ensuring extremely high data integrity and reliability.

TEAMGROUP's T-CREATE brand, which gives creators around the world the tools to express their creativity and inspiration, has updated its product lines again with today's launch of the EXPERT DDR4 OC10L desktop memory, CLASSIC PCIe 4.0 SSD, and CLASSIC DDR4 10L laptop memory. T-CREATE continues to launch diverse new products with improved specifications, producing powerful hardware to meet the needs of creators.

The T-CREATE EXPERT DESKTOP DDR4 OC10L not only has up to 32 GB of capacity per module but also an overclocking feature that automatically increases its frequency to 3600 MHz, providing worry-free overclocking with stable, high-frequency performance. It comes in a titanium grey finish that exudes the tasteful minimalism of the EXPERT product line. In addition, the memory uses a 10-layer PCB with a specialized anti-noise design for better processing capability, allowing creators to work on tasks simultaneously, whether it be producing animation, video editing, or converting large files. It substantially improves work efficiency and excels in multitasking during creative projects.

With Samsung, YMTC, SK Hynix, and Intel leading the charge, NAND Flash suppliers will maintain an aggressive effort to expand their production capacities throughout 2Q21, during which NAND Flash bit output will likely increase by nearly 10% QoQ, according to TrendForce's latest investigations. On the other hand, orders from PC OEMs and Chinese smartphone brands since 1Q21, as well as recovering procurement activities from clients in the data center segment during 2Q21, will generate upward momentum propelling NAND Flash bit demand. Furthermore, buyers are actively stocking up on finished products, such as SSDs and eMMC, due to persistently limited NAND Flash controller supply. TrendForce therefore expects NAND Flash contract prices to increase by an average of 3-8% QoQ in 2Q21 after experiencing a 5-10% decline QoQ in 1Q21. In particular, as Samsung's Line S2 fab in Austin has yet to resume full operation after the Texas winter storm, the supply of NAND Flash controllers going forward may be at risk, and Samsung's ability to manufacture client SSDs will be further constrained as a result. In light of these factors, TrendForce is not ruling out the possibility that NAND Flash contract prices may increase by even more than current forecasts.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is proud to announce the new NM620 M.2 2280 PCle Gen 3 x4 NVMe SSD. The NM620 is a perfect solution designed for content creators and gamers who want to maximize the speed of their PCs and be able to handle intensive workload. Enjoy 6x the speed of SATA SSDs with speeds of up to 3300 MB/s read and 3000 MB/s write, so you can improve overall workflow. Supported by PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe 1.4 technology standard and built with the latest 3D NAND flash, the NM620 puts you in the computing fast lane and offers impressive performance even for demanding creative workstations and gaming experiences.

For added efficiency, its reduced power consumption and cooler operation makes the battery life last longer than a traditional hard drive.Also, the NM620 is built to last with no moving parts, unlike traditional hard disk drive. On top of that, it's also shock and vibration resistant, making it one robust and reliable SSD.

Demand for notebook computers is expected to remain strong throughout 2Q21 due to the persisting stay-at-home economy that arose in the wake of the pandemic, according to TrendForce's latest investigations. In response to the high demand for notebooks, PC OEMs are actively raising a consistent inventory of components, including client SSDs. Nonetheless, client SSDs are now in increasingly tight supply because the preexisting shortage of NAND Flash controllers is now exacerbated by the power outage at Samsung's Austin-based semiconductor plant. SSD manufacturers are therefore preparing to raise the prices of SSDs. Accordingly, TrendForce has also revised up its forecast of client SSD prices for 2Q21 from "mostly flat" to a 3-8% increase QoQ instead.

be quiet!, market leader for PC power supplies in Germany since 2007, is expanding its portfolio with the revised Pure Rock Slim 2 CPU cooler and the MC1 and MC1 Pro SSD coolers suitable for M.2 2280 modules. With its reliable and quiet 92-millimeter Pure Wings 2 PWM fan and three 6 mm heat pipes, the Pure Rock Slim 2 can reliably dissipate waste heat of up to 130 W TDP. Thanks to its small dimensions the cooler is especially suitable for cases with limited space, while compatibility with AMD sockets has been improved over its predecessor. The new MC1 and MC1 Pro M.2 coolers reliably prevent modern SSDs from throttling due to excessive temperatures. Both models are equally suitable for single- or double-sided modules and feature an elegant black design that perfectly fits into any hardware layout.

The new be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 2 is a processor cooler with compact dimensions that dissipates waste heat of up to 130 watts thanks to its sophisticated design. With its optimized mounting system, the compact tower cooler's installation is child's play, even in tight spaces, and makes airflow-aligned installation on AMD sockets even easier. The single-tower cooler features a single Pure Wings 2 92 mm PWM fan. Thanks to its airflow-optimized fan blades this ensures that the cooler does not get louder than 25.4 dB(A) during operation.

All of the MSI Z490 motherboards will be supporting PCIe 4.0 with the coming Intel 11th Gen Intel Processors. Through an update to the latest BIOS, MSI Z490 motherboards offer great bandwidth and performance for PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs and graphics cards.

To be PCIe 4.0 compatible, several components on the motherboards are necessary, including PCIe 4.0 ready clock generator, lane switch, redriver, PCIe slots, and M.2 connectors. Thanks to the complete PCIe 4.0 solutions, MSI Z490 motherboards provide the most stable design for PCIe 4.0 and unlock the full performance of PCIe 4.0 devices.

Intel today rolled out the SSD 670p series, a new line of M.2 NVMe SSDs that are targeted at the mainstream segment. Built in the M.2-2280 form-factor with PCI-Express 3.0 x4 host-interface, the drive implements Intel's latest 144-layer 3D QLC NAND flash memory, mated with a re-badged Silicon Motion SM2265G 8-channel controller that uses a fixed 256 MB DDR3L DRAM cache across all capacity variants. It comes in capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB.

The 1 TB and 2 TB variants offer sequential read speeds of up to 3500 MB/s, while the 512 GB variant reads at up to 3000 MB/s. Sequential write speeds vary, with the 512 GB variant writing at up to 1600 MB/s, the 1 TB variant at up to 2500 MB/s, and the 2 TB variant at up to 2700 MB/s. The drives offer significantly higher endurance than past generations of QLC-based drives, with the 512 GB variant capable of up to 185 TBW, the 1 TB variant up to 370 TBW, and the 2 TB variant up to 740 TBW. Intel is backing the drives with 5-year warranties. The 512 GB variant is priced at $89, the 1 TB variant at $154, and the 2 TB variant at $329.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass producing its most advanced line of data center SSDs, the PM9A3 E1.S.

The new PM9A3 fully complies with the Open Compute Project (OCP) NVMe Cloud SSD Specification to satisfy the rigorous demands of enterprise workloads. Defined by leading data center providers including Facebook, the OCP Specification is a set of unified interoperable standards, enabling SSD vendors to work toward next-generation storage designs with much more effectiveness.

Western Digital announced the new WD Green SN350 series of entry-level M.2 NVMe SSDs. These drives are positioned a notch below the WD Blue SN550 (mid-range), while the WD Black SN850 remains the company's current flagship client SSD product. The WD Green SN350 comes in capacities of 240 GB, 480 GB, and 960 GB. The company didn't detail the underlying architecture, but the drive features PCI-Express 3.0 x4 host interface, and likely features a 4-channel controller architecture. It also appears to feature DRAM cache.

All three capacity variants of the WD Green SN350 offer sequential read speeds of up to 2,400 MB/s. The 240 GB variant offers sequential writes of up to 900 MB/s, the 480 GB variant up to 1,650 MB/s, and the 960 GB variant up to 1,900 MB/s. The company didn't detail the NAND flash type, or endurance numbers. It's backing these drives with 3-year warranties. The 240 GB variant is priced at USD $43.99, the 480 GB variant $54.99, and the 960 GB variant $99.99.

Today we have one interesting research in our hands. According to Trendfocus inc. we have come to know that as much as 333 million Solid State Drives were shipped last year, in 2020. The SSDs have finally overcome HDDs in the number of shipped units, with HDDs shipping 260 million units. In terms of total capacity shipped, HDDs are still winning. The average SSD has less storage capacity compared to the average HDD, thus making the total shipped capacity of all 333 million SSDs "just" 207 Exabytes (EB), while the total shipped capacity of HDDs is a bit over one Zettabyte (ZB).

The average capacity of SSD was as much as 0.67 Terabytes (TB), while the average capacity of HDD was around 4.0 TBs. This is exactly why HDDs are still present as much - simply because they can store much more storage and offer better value as the price per Gigabyte ratio is much lower than the one of an SSD. The SSDs are experiencing Year-over-Year growth of 20.8% in unit shipments, while HDDs are declining at the rate of 18%. When it comes to the total storage capacity shipped on yearly basis, SSDs are growing at the rate of 50%, with HDDs growing at a 13% rate. You can also check out the SSD share of different vendors below.

With the debut of PCIe 4.0 standard, SSD manufacturers have started launching a new generation of storage devices, with unseen speeds before. Today's PCIe 4.0 SSDs can reach up to 8.0 GB/s reads and writes, all thanks to the bandwidth-heavy PCIe protocol. However, enterprise workloads are always requiring more and more bandwidth to satisfy their needs. Data is being moved in immense quantities and faster hardware is always welcome. The previous PCIe 4.0 standard is about to kneel to its successor - PCIe 5.0 protocol. Having double the amount of bandwidth, the new standard is set to bring unseen speeds.

The PCIe 5.0 protocol offers 32 GT/s per lane, making up to 64 GB/s in the full x16 implementation. However, when it comes to SSDs, as they use x4 lanes, it will increase the maximum speed to 16 GB/s, doubling the previous bandwidth. Silicon Motion, the maker of NAND flash controllers, has announced that the company is going to debut a PCIe 5.0 controller next year. "We are excited about enterprise-grade PCIe Gen5 controller, which we will have taped out early next year and sample in the second half of 2022", said Wallace Kuo, chief executive of Silicon Motion, during a conference call. Launching just in time to pair with Intel's Sapphire Rapids Xeon processors that support the PCIe 5.0 protocol, Silicon Motion is probably expecting to grab its market share there.

NAND Flash demand continues to rise as strong sales of notebook (laptop) computers spur PC OEMs to place additional orders for client SSDs, according to TrendForce's latest investigations. Also, the supply-side inventory for NAND Flash memory has already fallen considerably due to the aggressive stock-up activities of some smartphone brands. With customers in the data center segment expected to ramp up procurement in 2Q21, NAND Flash suppliers have decided to scale back the supply of NAND Flash wafers. Compared with other product categories, wafers have a lower gross margin. As a result of these factors, the decline in contract prices of wafers has been easing over the past two months (i.e., from December of last year to January of this year).

CORSAIR, a world leader in high-performance gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the launch of three new CORSAIR Gen4 PCIe x4 NVMe M.2 Solid State Drives - the MP600 CORE, MP600 PRO, and MP600 PRO Hydro X Edition. All MP600 SSDs store massive amounts of data with lightning-fast transfer speeds, leveraging PCIe Gen4 technology for incredible, sustained performance.

The MP600 CORE offers up to 4,950MB/sec sequential read and 3,950MB/sec sequential write speeds, while the MP600 PRO and MP600 PRO Hydro X can achieve a blazing-fast 7,000MB/sec sequential read and 6,550MB/sec sequential write speeds[a]. The MP600 CORE is available now in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. The MP600 PRO is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities immediately with a 4TB model coming soon, while the MP600 PRO Hydro X Edition comes in a 2TB capacity, complete with an integrated CORSAIR Hydro X Series XM2 water block that connects your SSD seamlessly into your custom cooling loop. The XM2 water block is also available for purchase as a standalone product, compatible with many existing M.2 SSDs.

Gigabyte Technology, one of the top global manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, announces today the latest AORUS Gen4 7000s SSD with up to 7 GB/s read speed. Enhanced by the new generation PCIe 4.0 controller with advanced 3D-TLC NAND Flash, it boosts up to 55% more performance than previous generation PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. AORUS Gen4 7000s SSDs come in two capacity variants, 2 TB and 1 TB with M.2 2280 interface to make installation easy. They equip big aluminium thermal interface in different sizes and double side thermal pad with Nanocarbon coating for improved heat dissipation. Meanwhile, the SSD Tool Box application provides the instant overview and adjustment of SSD status.

"The storage devices are taking advantage of the PCIe 4.0 transfer speed that raised from 5 GB/s to almost 8 GB/s, which is great news for users who expect to optimize storage performance and reduce the bottle neck of system operation." said Jackson Hsu, Director of the GIGABYTE Channel Solutions Product Development Division. "AORUS Gen4 7000s SSDs further advance the standards set by our previous SSD products to provide users with breakthrough performance. After the OS installed, uses can enjoy unprecedented 7 GB/s read speed with 1 TB or 2 TB storage capability. The thermal solution and the double-sided thermal pad are designed to slow down the throttling that might occur at high-speed operation of SSD, thus boost the system performance."

Apacer, a leading manufacturer of digital storage, recently launched its new generation of SSDs - the AS340X and AS350X. The "X" in the name stands for exploration, since the product is exploring previously unknown speed limits. The AS340X and AS350X use a cutting-edge SATA III transmission interface, giving the AS340X read/write speeds of up to 550/520 MB/s and the AS350X read/write speeds of up to 560/540 MB/s. The excellent performance brings users a lightning-fast boot-ups experience.

The AS340X and AS350X are Apacer's latest mid-to-high-end SSDs. They use a new generation of SATA III interface and provide 6 Gb/s transmission speeds, enabling the AS340X to reach read/write speeds of up to 550/520 MB/s and the AS350X read/write speeds of up to 560/540 MB/s. The blisteringly fast speed of AS340X and AS350X means that gamers and consumers demanding excellent price/performance ratios need look no further.

PNY announces the launch of XLR8 CS3140 M.2 NVMe Gen4 x4 Solid State Drive, the "CS3140", delivering speeds never seen before. PNY's quest to continuously deliver cutting-edge technology for the most demanding applications has led to the development of the company's fastest M.2 NVMe SSD yet. The CS3140 sets new standards that enable 4K and 8K content creators, high-intensive application users, gamers, and others to experience a whole new level of speed, performance, and productivity.

Optimized for the latest NVMe Gen 4.0 protocol, which continues to gain adoption from motherboard manufacturers and users, the CS3140 delivers outstanding sequential speeds of up to 7,500 MB/s read and up to 6,850 MB/s write speeds, redefining possibilities and paving the road to a whole new world of content creation, gaming, and so much more.

OWC, the premier zero-emissions Mac and PC technology company, and a respected provider of Memory, External Drives, SSDs, Mac & PC docking solutions, and performance upgrade kits announces the OWC U2 Shuttle as the world's first U.2 carrier shuttle for 3.5" drive bays that combines four NVMe M.2 SSDs. It offers video editors, audio producers, photographers, and graphic designers everything they've always wanted in a multiple blade SSD: blistering speed, massive capacity, RAID-ready flexibility, and swappable convenience. The OWC U2 Shuttle can be used with U.2 port-equipped PCs and servers, as well as OWC storage and PCIe expansion solutions.

With four NVMe SSDs the OWC U2 Shuttle gives you more RAID options than a dual drive enclosure or adapter card. Now you can harness the power of RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, or 10 via your choice of hardware cards or RAID utilities including SoftRAID, the easiest to use, most fully featured software RAID package available. This powerful and intuitive software RAID utility offers maximum volume capacity, optimum drive performance, data protection, or a combination of attributes.