In a recent revelation, Samsung has hinted at a groundbreaking development that could revolutionize the storage industry. At the Flash Memory Summit 2023, the tech giant teased details about a massive 256TB SSD, leaving tech enthusiasts eager for more.
During the summit, Yong Ho Song, the Corporate EVP of Memory Solution Product & Development at Samsung, unveiled their latest marvel, stating it as "a 256TB SSD showcasing an unparalleled integration density." Interestingly, this SSD is QLC-based, targeting hyperscalers and enterprises. However, there was a conspicuous absence of any mention of PLC (Penta level Cell), which has raised some eyebrows.
Diving deeper into the press release, Samsung claims that a single 256TB SSD would consume almost seven times less power than stacking eight 32TB SSDs, even though both configurations store the same data volume. This statement has left many puzzled, prompting further analysis.
While Samsung might be pioneering a QLC enterprise SSD, they aren't the first in the market. Solidigm's D5-P5336 has already demonstrated that performance, capacity, and affordability can coexist. With Samsung entering the fray, it's evident that more players will soon join the bandwagon.
The introduction of a 256TB SSD poses a significant threat to traditional hard disk drives, such as the Exos X20. Although HDD manufacturers are gearing up to launch their 26TB and 30TB variants, the clock is ticking against them.
Decoding the Samsung SSD Mystery
Samsung's 8th generation V-NAND, boasting a 236-layer and 1Tb capacity, was launched in November 2022. This technology, which Samsung claimed had the highest bit density at its release, is probably the backbone of the 256TB SSD. Simple math suggests that around 500 1Tb (128GB) chips would be packed into this SSD, raising questions about its form factor given the power consumption.
The 3.5-inch form factor, reminiscent of the 100TB SSD by Nimbus Data, seems a likely choice, especially since it can directly replace SATA/SAS-based HDDs. However, newer form factors like the Enterprise and Data Center Standard Form Factor (EDSFF) such as E1.L and E3.L 2T, which can deliver up to 40W and 70W respectively, might also be in the running.
Interestingly, Samsung's press release also alludes to a 32TB SSD, a product they currently don't offer. This might be a nod to their 32TB SSD prototype from 2017, which was never released. Given that the 8th generation V-NAND is eight times the size of the 4th generation V-NAND, a 2.5-inch form factor seems a probable choice for the 256TB SSD.
Supporting this theory, Samsung has also announced their commitment to the 2.5-inch standard with the upcoming PCIe 5.0 SSD, the PM9D3a, albeit with a 7.68TB/15.36TB capacity.
In conclusion, Samsung's 256TB SSD announcement has stirred the tech world. While we await more details, it's evident that the future of storage is leaning towards SSDs, potentially phasing out traditional HDDs.
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