The PCIe 4.0 interface enables data transfer speeds twice that of its predecessor, PCIe 3.0, and will now form the basis of the next generation of Micron SSDs for OEM systems and the consumer market. These new SSDs are based on the brand’s new generation of 3D NAND memory which combines the new controller architecture with 176 cell layers for higher available densities.
Micron’s first PCIe 4.0 SSDs
The new SSD Micron 3400 PCIe 4.0 are designed for high performance requirements; They are available in the M.2 2280 form factor and offer storage capacities ranging from 512GB to 2TB using 176-layer TLC-NAND memory chips. As for the controller, Micron is based on an internal design which they did not specify but which supports the PCIe 4.0 interface with NVMe 1.4 protocol, which compared to the current Micron 2300 will provide twice the performance, therefore Speeds are expected to be around 6600MB / s read and up to 5000MB / s write.
On the other hand, we have the Micron 2450, which is more geared towards “affordable performance”. These SSDs also embed 176 NAND TLC layers but will be offered in capacities ranging from 256 GB to 1 TB nothing more, in quite different form factors since in addition to the usual M.2 2280 we will see many more formats. short for small format equipment, including M.2 2242 and M2.2230 which are only 3 centimeters long.
The Micron 3400 and 2450 series must meet the requirements of Intel’s Project Athena due to their “advanced energy efficiency” and be on the “Intel Modern Standby Partner Portal Platform Component List”. SSDs are also validated per AMD power and speed policy guidelines and Microsoft Windows PCIe.
As of now, Micron hasn’t revealed full specs beyond the image you can see above, nor their price and date of arrival in store (they said they are already producing them. en masse so it shouldn’t spend a long time until we see them in the stores).
176-layer flash with Phison E18 controller
As usual, Micron will not only use its new NAND Flash technology in its new products, but will also make it available to external customers. So we can expect to see in few high-end SSDs with 176-layer NAND and the enthusiast-designed Phison E18 controller, a controller we’ve seen before that manages to break through the 7,000MB / s barrier and the done with you too. grow.
So far, they haven’t said anything about which partners will be using this new Micron technology, and we sure won’t hear from them until they hit the market.
