Micron Unleashes First PCIe 5.0 SSD with QLC Memory: A Market Revolution?

The company Micron has unveiled the 3610 solid-state drive, marking the world’s first SSD with PCIe 5.0 and QLC memory in the M.2 2230 format. In fact, the Micron 3610 model (note, the company has moved away from the Crucial brand) is available in several formats, but specifically, the M.2 2230 combination was previously unavailable on the market.

The volume also varies. The new products are available in versions ranging from 1 to 4 TB with M.2 2280, 2242, and 2230 form factors. They are based on 3D NAND QLC G9 memory, although details about the controller are lacking.

Recent industry trends show a growing demand for these SSDs due to their ability to handle higher bandwidth, crucial for tasks such as professional video editing and heavy data processing. This demand showcases the potential shift in consumer preferences towards more advanced storage solutions.

The speeds here are far from peak, as Micron positions the new products as mainstream SSDs. The read speed reaches 11 GB/s, while the write speed amounts to 9.3 GB/s. The performance reaches 1.5-1.6 million IOPS. Naturally, these are top indicators, and the lower versions may have reduced performance. Also notable is the absence of a DRAM chip as a memory buffer, which is also intended to reduce the SSD’s cost.

As competitors like Samsung and Western Digital unveil their own PCIe 5.0 SSDs, Micron’s launch signifies a significant development in the SSD landscape, potentially impacting price and technology standards in the industry. The strategic focus on eliminating DRAM buffers also highlights a trend towards cost-effective yet high-performance solutions.