Tag Archives: SSD

Micron Unveils Groundbreaking Ninth-Generation NAND Flash Technology

July 31, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Micron Technology has taken a significant leap forward in data storage technology with the introduction of its ninth-generation (G9) TLC NAND flash memory. This innovation positions Micron as a leader in the industry, offering unparalleled performance and efficiency for data-intensive applications.

Unmatched Speed & Density

The G9 NAND boasts a staggering transfer speed of 3.6 GB/s, a substantial leap compared to previous generations. This groundbreaking technology is poised to revolutionize the performance of Solid State Drives (SSDs) and other storage devices, particularly in sectors requiring high-speed data processing, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.

Micron’s G9 NAND excels in density as well. It occupies 28% less space than competing technologies while maintaining high storage capacity. This efficiency translates to smaller, more compact devices without compromising performance, as detailed in the Micron G9 NAND product page.

The performance benefits of G9 NAND extend beyond raw speed. It offers up to 99% higher write bandwidth and 88% better read bandwidth per die compared to previous generations, significantly enhancing the overall performance of SSDs (as referenced in the 2650 NVMe SSD product brief).

Micron 2650 NVMe SSD: A Showcase for G9 NAND’s Potential

The Micron 2650 NVMe SSD serves as a prime example of the G9 NAND’s capabilities. According to Micron, this SSD delivers exceptional performance in real-world applications, outperforming competitors by up to 38% in PCMark 10 benchmarks. This should translate to faster boot times, smoother multitasking, and quicker application launches for users.

Micron’s commitment to innovation extends beyond performance. The company is also focused on energy efficiency. The G9 NAND contributes to reducing power consumption in SSDs, making it an environmentally friendly choice for data centres and consumers alike.

As the demand for high-performance storage solutions continues to grow, Micron’s G9 NAND technology is poised to play a pivotal role in meeting the evolving needs of various industries, from data centres to consumer electronics.

Pricing & Availability

Specific pricing and availability details for the G9 NAND and Micron 2650 SSD have not been officially released. However, considering the target market and the focus on cutting-edge technology, the pricing is expected to reflect its premium positioning.

Business

Micron 9550 NVMe SSD Boosts Performance and Efficiency for Data Centres

July 31, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Micron Technology has introduced the Micron 9550 NVMe SSD, a groundbreaking storage solution designed to excel in demanding data centre environments. This SSD is particularly well-suited for AI workloads, offering exceptional performance and efficiency.

At the core of the 9550 SSD’s capabilities are its impressive speed metrics. Delivering sequential read and write speeds of 14.0 GB/s and 10.0 GB/s respectively, the drive significantly outperforms its predecessors. These figures, coupled with industry-leading random read and write speeds, position the 9550 SSD as a top choice for handling the intensive data processing demands of AI applications.

Micron’s vertical integration strategy, encompassing controller, NAND, DRAM, and firmware development, has been instrumental in achieving the 9550 SSD’s exceptional performance. This approach allows for fine-tuned optimization and the integration of advanced features such as self-encrypting drive capabilities and compliance with security standards like SPDM 1.2.

Power efficiency is another key strength of the 9550 SSD. Consuming up to 43% less power than comparable SSDs in AI workloads, the drive contributes to reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs in data centres. This efficiency is particularly crucial in the context of growing environmental concerns and rising energy costs.

The 9550 SSD is designed to integrate into existing data centre infrastructure seamlessly. It is compatible with leading industry platforms, including NVIDIA’s Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage and AMD EPYC-based servers. Intel has also expressed support for the drive, highlighting its alignment with Intel’s Xeon processor platforms.

Available in capacities ranging from 3.2TB to 30.72TB and across multiple form factors, the Micron 9550 SSD offers flexibility to meet the diverse needs of data centre operators. Its focus on performance, efficiency, and security makes it a compelling choice for organizations seeking to optimize their data centre operations for demanding workloads such as AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing.

While specific pricing and availability details have not been disclosed, Micron has confirmed that the 9550 SSD is currently sampling globally. This suggests that the product is likely to be commercially available in the near future.

Business, Computers, Gaming

ADATA Set to Showcase Sustainable Innovations and Cutting-Edge Tech at Computex 2024

May 31, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

ADATA, a leading memory and flash storage brand, will showcase a wide range of exciting new products under the theme “Innovate Today, Embrace Tomorrow” at Computex 2024. From June 4 to 7, visitors to the ADATA booth at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1, 4th Floor L0810 can explore innovations across three key areas: AI Computing, Sustainability and Innovation, and Immersive Reality.

The “AI Computing” section features a collaboration with XPG brand ambassador Mera, a hyper-realistic AI virtual human. This display highlights ADATA’s commitment to AI technology with a range of solutions designed to accelerate performance and meet the demanding needs of AI applications. Visitors can see the powerful XPG DEFENDER WS L smart AI workstation with its superior processing capabilities and innovative noise-reduction chassis.

The XPG XENIA 15G Laptop (AI Development Edition) will also be on display. It boasts a staggering 24TB of SSD storage and 96GB of DRAM, ideal for data processing tasks. ADATA will also showcase overclocked DDR5 8000 R-DIMM memory for faster AI model performance and the latest generation LPCAMM2 memory products, designed to handle demanding AI workloads. For mobile users, ADATA offers the industry’s only complete range of Express Card storage solutions to boost the performance of AI mobile devices.

ADATA is leading the industry in DRAM SSD cooling solutions

ADATA will be showcasing its eco-friendly products and cutting-edge cooling solutions. ADATA offers a comprehensive range of DRAM and SSD cooling solutions, featuring heat dissipation coatings, liquid cooling options, and the use of recycled materials.

The XPG LANCER NEON RGB DDR5 memory module utilizes recycled materials and an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. High-performance SSDs like Project NeonStorm PCIe Gen5 SSD and LEGEND 970 PRO PCIe Gen5 SSD showcase innovative cooling systems for optimal performance without sacrificing eco-awareness. Project NeoCool PCIe Gen4 SSD takes a different approach, utilizing innovative graphene composite materials for efficient heat dissipation.

ADATA has introduced a series of external Type C SSDs to meet growing demand for seamless connection between devices

Beyond components, ADATA offers sustainable storage solutions. The EC600 enclosure utilizes recycled plastic and grants a new life cycle to used 2.5-inch disks. Additionally, the UC320 flash drive is crafted with a high percentage of recycled plastic. The award-winning XPG INVADER X mid-tower gaming chassis incorporates eco-friendly features and a sleek aesthetic. XPG is further expanding its commitment to sustainability with a wider range of cooling solutions, including air coolers, AIO liquid coolers, and ARGB PWM fans.

The yet-to-be-announced XPG NIA Gaming Handheld PC will also be at COMPUTEX. ADATA is teasing superior ergonomics and a circular design for a comfortable gaming experience on the go. It also features innovative EYEWEAR eye-tracking technology for an even more immersive experience. Visitors can also demo the latest XPG gaming hardware, including the INVADER X family of gaming chassis, SORCERER and SORCERER MINI gaming keyboards, PRECOG STUDIO gaming headset, and FRONTLINE XL mouse pad.

ADATA isn’t forgetting about desktop gamers either. XPG will showcase a range of power supply units, including the top-of-the-line FUSION 1600W Titanium and their first SFX Platinum PSU. For data transfer and storage needs, ADATA offers a range of external Type-C SSDs, including the USB4 SE920, SE880, SD810, SC750, and SC720 models.

Business, Computers, News

Malaysia’s First SSD, NEUBE, Enters the High-Performance SSD Market with Server On & PHISON Backing

April 13, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Malaysia has always had a complicated history with science and technology. While the country itself has never been seen at the forefront of the industries, its citizens are deeply entrenched in milestone achievements in the industries. One such milestone is the creation and mass production of USB flash drives. Dato’ Pua Khein-Seng, a Malaysian and one of the pioneers of solid state drives (SSDs) used in USBs is looking to change that in the near future.

Neube 1 — *[Source: Server On & PHISON] Robert Wu, ServerOn Co-founder; Chan Wone-Hoe, ServerOn Co-founder; Dato Pua Khein-Seng, CEO of Phison Electronics Corp; Albert Kang, Phison Head of Business Development* *officiating the launch of NEUBE.*

Dato’ Pua Khein Seng is looking to bring back some of the success he’s had overseas, particularly in Taiwan, to Malaysia. How? He’s embarking on creating Malaysia’s first enterprise SSD and we’re not talking just the fabrication and assembly. He envisions an SSD that is designed, engineered and fabricated in Malaysia. To achieve this, Dato’ Pua is partnering with ServerOn Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian distributor of enterprise and data center-grade hardware.

The partnership will see ServerOn partner with PHISON Electronics Corporation, a Taiwan-based company specialising in storage technologies. As CEO of PHISON, Dato’ Pua is looking to train Malaysian talent to eventually design and create SSDs. The new startup which will be incorporated as part of this partnership will recruit and create job opportunities for Malaysians to be involved in the design and creation of cutting-edge storage technologies.

WhatsApp Image 2023 04 13 at 12.29.28 PM — *[Source: Server On & PHISON] Neube SSDs will be available in Q2 2023.*

As a first step, ServerOn and PHISON are introducing the first-ever truly Malaysian SSD with NEUBE. Designed and engineered in Malaysia, NEUBE SSDs cater to high-demand workloads and data centres. NEUBE SSDs will be available in popular form factors including 2.5-inch, U.2, M.2 and E1.S. ServerOn will be using these SSDs as an option in their offerings when they come to market later in Q2 2023. Other retailers can also be part of this developing story by getting in touch with Server On.

“NEUBE’s SSDs are built with high-quality materials and advanced error correction technology, which can help prevent data loss and system crashes. This can lead to improved system stability and reduce downtime for the client’s business,” said Dato’ Pua Khein-Seng, CEO of Phison.

Neube 2 — *[Source: Server On & PHISON] Dato Pua Khein-Seng addressing the media at the MoU signing and launch of NEUBE*

That said, Dato’ Pua sees this as only the first step in creating a truly Malaysian product. While Server On and PHISON will collaborate further, he sees government policies and market demand as the biggest hurdles for NEUBE to be successful globally. He stressed, “The only way forward for Malaysia to become a leader in the technology space is for the government to empower the local startups and industry with the right policies. They should also be the pioneers in implementing these policies and adopting Malaysian products such as the newly launched NEUBE SSDs.”

Accessories, Computers, Lifestyle, News

Samsung Introduces the PM9C1a – The Next Level in SSD Performance

January 12, 2023 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

The fastest storage you can get with money today is a Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (Solid State Drive). It offers up to nearly 7.5GB/s in read speeds and up to nearly 7GB/s in write speeds. That is faster than what you can get even in your next-generation gaming consoles like the PS5 and the Xbox. The new SSD Samsung introduced is nothing like that.

This is the PM9C1a, a PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD that is made for everyday use. It will not hit speeds like the 990 PRO drive. It reads at a mere 6,000MB/s and writes up to 5,600MB/s. You are still getting read/write speeds beyond what the next-generation gaming consoles can do. That means while the PM9C1a is not made for gaming specifically, the SSD will do just find even with the most demanding AAA games available.

Since it is an everyday high-performance storage, Samsung has to build some reliability and security into the device. The SSD supports Device Identifier Composition Engine (DICE) security standard. It generates cryptographic keys within the SSD. What that does is provide some from of protection from supply chain attacks that targets vulnerabilities from a separate network. The measure also prevents the firmware within the SSD to be tampered, adding some operational reliability.

Of course, because this SSD might find its way to offices around the world, you want the device to be as economical and efficient as possible to keep operational costs low. Samsung fitted the PM9C1a with their 5nm technology controllers and seventh-generation V-NAND memory modules. The result is a 70% increase in power efficiency over the older PM9B1. In that sense, you can run the SSD at a lower power draw but at the same or even better performances over the older storage. In a notebook PC, the SSD even turns itself down and consumers 10% further less power in standby mode.

Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung

Samsung has not announced the exact availability date of the new PM9C1a SSD in the market. We are expecting the SSD to hit the stores sometime in February 2023, at least for the Malaysian market. They have not mentioned a specific price to their latest SSD either. Based on prices of the older generation Samsung PM9B1, you can expect the latest SSD to start at over MYR 200 (256GB). There will be three configurations for the PM9C1a SSD – 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. They will also be available in the most popular M.2 form factors – 22mm x 30mm. 22mm x 42mm, and 22mm x 80mm. For more information regarding Samsung’s latest memory modules, you can head over to their website.

Computers, Gaming, News

Microsoft Announces that DirectStorage is now Available – No More Load Screens for Windows Gaming! There is a Catch.

March 15, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Next generation gaming on both the Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation are technically the best and most advanced gaming devices ever to hit the market. The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 offered a gaming experience like no other when they made the announcement of a certain storage technology that changed the gaming industry. It allowed the hardware to fully access all the speed offered by a 4^th generation SSD storage.

In theory, the new technology allowed full access to the 5GB/s read speeds that the new SSDs are capable of. That much read speeds also means that loading times in games are cut short to nearly an instant. For games that was introduced on PS5 like “Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart”, it means no loading screens from one map to another. In that sense, developers are given more freedom to design games that has nearly no loading screens. That technology alone put the next-generation consoles ahead of even the most powerful gaming PCs you can find today.

Microsoft did make an announcement 18 months ago that that same DirectStorage technology on the Xbox Series X will make it to Windows games. That 18-month waiting time has laboured its final fruits. Microsoft has just announced that the DirectStorage API is here for Windows games.

direct storage normal asset flow 1 — Source: Make Use Of

This announcement also means that games for Windows 10 and Windows 11 now get full access to the full 5GB/s the 4^th Generation PCIe NVMe Solid State Drives. Technically, if SSDs gets faster in these few years, DirectStorage technology should also mean that whatever speeds SSDs can go to, games have access to as well. In that sense, it means loading times in PC games are not just greatly reduced, it could be eliminated.

There is a problem here. While Microsoft says that Windows 10 and 11 are ready for games with no loading screens, we will not be getting any games without loading times though. The reality is this, the marker is still full of games that are optimised for HDD speeds. That also means that even if your SSD can be read at 5GB/s, games today are not made to take advantage of those speeds yet.

The way things look, it looks like we also will not be getting any games that would be made to take advantage of those speeds anytime too soon too. HDDs are still a thing in the PC market. It is the cheapest way to set up a gaming PC today still, at the same time too, PCIe NVMe 4.0 SSDs are not the cheapest storage options available at this time. Still, if game developers are paying attention, they will make more games like the upcoming “Forspoken”. For now, while this announcement may not be much too significant currently, it could mean a future where games can feel seamless all the time.

Accessories, Computers, News

Western Digital Announces the Black SN850 SSD with 7GB/s and 5.3GB/s Read/Write speeds – The New Speed King

October 12, 2020 Jimmy Chua Leave a comment

Western Digital (WD) has stolen the limelight of Samsung with their latest announcement of their newest PCIe 4.0 Solid State Drive (SSD) offering a serious performance for gamers, along with an NVMe SSD add-in-card, plus a game dock. They call it the Black, and it it serious. It is seriously fast.

The latest WD Black SN850 is the fastest SSD to boot currently, faster than Samsung’s recently announced Samsung SSD 980 Pro. At least in write speeds, it is. The WD Black SN850 offers up to 7000MB/s and 5300MB/s (300MB/s faster than the Samsung) with a brand new cache technology that should help reduce load times on PC or in games.

Furthermore, WD also mentions that the SN850 offers a smooth and responsive gaming experience with up to 1,000,000 random read IOPS. The new drive is powered by the WD/Kioxia BiSCS4, which is a 96-layer TLC 3D NAND memory. What does that mean? It just means that your games will never run the same. That, or you will never play your games the same way.

WD will also sell the SN850 with an optional heatsink. The heatsink features a gamer-aesthetic sleek design, along with an RGB lighting system that is customizable with the WD Black Dashboard software. The RGB system only comes with the heatsink-equipped WD Black SN850 drives, so if you are a fan of RGB, you know your pick. With that kind of read/write speeds too, you might want to ensure that your SSD remains cool to work with.

PCIe 4.0 drive became the most demanded type of drive since the Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5) demo and introduction, with good reason. While Sony hasn’t exactly published any sort of official compatibility list for the drives that can work best on the new console, WD has already marked the WD Black SN850 as PS5 compatible. We wonder if the WD Black SN850 with a heatsink would fit well on the PS5’s PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot.

Source: Western Digital
Source: Western Digital
Source: Western Digital
Source: Western Digital
Source: Western Digital
Source: Western Digital
Source: Western Digital

Maintaining that compelling price-performance ratio, the SN850 will likely prove a potent challenger for Samsung’s 980 Pro when WD’s drive goes on sale before the end of October (a heatsink-equipped version of the SN850 will follow in 2021, costing a bit more). The new drives come with an optional heatsink, RGB lighting, and comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. If you want one, the 500 GB variant without the heatsink will set you back US$ 149.99 (MYR 618*), the 1TB will set you back US$ 229.99 (MYR 949*), and the 2TB (which we suspect might not make it to Malaysia) will set you back US$ 449.99 (MYR 1,862*). The heatsink will add US$ 20 (MYR 83*) to your purchase.

* Based on Approximate Rate US$ 1 = MYR 4.14 as of 12/10/2020

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