News Silicon Motion is developing a next-gen PCIe 6.0 SSD controller

[Admin]

Silicon Motion is working on the SM8466 SSD controller with a PCIe Gen6 host interface.

Silicon Motion is developing a next-gen PCIe 6.0 SSD controller : Read more

 

[bit_user]

This can only be aimed at the server market, given that's the only platform with PCIe 6.0 support on their roadmap. The weird part is that datacenter SSDs actually lagged consumer SSDs in embracing PCIe 5.0, by a couple years. At present, no sever platforms currently support PCIe 6.0.

 

[thestryker]

The weird part is that datacenter SSDs actually lagged consumer SSDs in embracing PCIe 5.0, by a couple years.

This is just speculation based on what I know about the consumer market, but it could be based on manufacturing node. No client controllers until last year were manufactured on a 7nm node and I can't imagine an enterprise level PCIe 5.0 controller on anything worse.

All of the 30TB+ class drives I've seen have been PCIe 4.0 so while I know these drives don't need PCIe 5.0 perhaps there's something else at play as well.

 

[pixelpusher220]

the progress in performance not just in SSDs but in most parts of the PC echo system is seemingly pushing into overkill territory for general use. Will be interesting to see how mfrs balance the needs of the masses with the bleeding edge.

PCIe 4.0 is *plenty* for all but a small subset of scenarios. And given the likely cooling needs of 6.0 speeds, almost wonder if the current 'stick it anywhere on the mobo' might need to move to a more standard and cooler friendly location.

 

[OldAnalogWorld]

Again, this is only for the server market, where it makes any sense.

In the consumer segment, it would be better for these gentlemen to make new controllers for the 3.0/4.0 bus using the "3nm" process technology with a consumption of no more than 4W at peak - this is what all laptop buyers are waiting for - 4-8 TB drives with a consumption of no more than 4W. Wherever you look, there is an abundance of SSDs with a consumption of 9-10W at peak, even the top Samsung lines are like that.

Where are the 2-4-8 TB models like the Hynix P31 Gold? I can't find them in retail for the 3.0/4.0 bus, and I am generally not interested for 5.0 in laptops, and in PCs too.

 

[bit_user]

All of the 30TB+ class drives I've seen have been PCIe 4.0 so while I know these drives don't need PCIe 5.0 perhaps there's something else at play as well.

Here's a 61.44TB drive that was shipping >= 2 months ago @ PCIe 5.0 x4:

https://www.storagereview.com/revie...rgy-efficiency-and-high-capacity-in-one-drive
​

I'm pretty sure I've seen announcements of that capacity and higher @ PCIe 5.0 by others, but I don't have time to go looking right now.

 

[bit_user]

what all laptop buyers are waiting for - 4-8 TB drives with a consumption of no more than 4W. Wherever you look, there is an abundance of SSDs with a consumption of 9-10W at peak, even the top Samsung lines are like that.

Where are the 2-4-8 TB models like the Hynix P31 Gold? I can't find them in retail for the 3.0/4.0 bus, and I am generally not interested for 5.0 in laptops, and in PCs too.

When I see PCIe 5.0 NVMe drives tested, it's always using a PCIe 5.0 host. Forcing them to run at PCIe 4.0 (which is the most that many laptop M.2 slots support, anyhow) should reduce their power consumption and heat dissipation. I'd be curious to know how efficient the latest generation of PCIe 5.0-capable controllers are at that speed.