A new SSD form factor could soon bring petabyte-scale storage to servers, combining vast capacity with PCIe 6.0 speed. Prototype models already pack 300 TB.
The storage industry is preparing for a major leap forward with the upcoming E2 form factor for NVMe SSDs. Positioned between existing E1 and E3 designs, E2 combines the best of both and introduces the largest circuit board area yet—enough to eventually support up to 1 petabyte (1,000 TB) of storage in a single drive.
The E2 standard is being developed by the Open Compute Project (OCP) in collaboration with companies like Micron and PureStorage. It allows for more than 64 NAND packages per SSD, thanks to a 200mm x 76mm board layout. The format also includes space for controllers, DRAM, and power-loss protection components.
Prototypes already exist. Micron has shown a working 300 TB SSD, while PureStorage has confirmed a fully operational unit. With PCIe 6.0 planned as the interface, E2 SSDs could deliver up to 30 GB/s, although most deployments will aim for 10 GB/s—still more than enough for datacenter applications.
The E2 standard is expected to be finalized by mid-2025, aligning with the broader rollout of PCIe 6.0. Alongside unmatched storage capacity, E2 will also enable higher power budgets—up to 80 watts, more than any current SSD format allows.
This evolution marks a turning point for hyperscale storage, setting the stage for petabyte-class drives in mainstream datacenter deployments
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