Samsung begins the production of its fastest solid-state drive.
The sequential read and write speeds increased more than double compared to the previous generation.
Samsung made a significant announcement on October 4, communicating the start of mass production of its new SSD, the PM9E1. This device, which operates with the PCIe 5.0 interface, is presented as offering the highest performance and capacity in the sector. It utilizes an internal 5-nanometer (nm) controller and relies on eighth-generation V-NAND technology, promoting not only excellent speed but also improved energy efficiency, making it an excellent choice for PCs that integrate artificial intelligence.
Compared to its predecessor, the PM9A1, the new SSD has seen significant improvements in aspects such as performance, storage capacity, energy efficiency, and security. YongCheol Bae, executive vice president of memory product planning at Samsung, emphasized that the PM9E1, with its 5 nm controller, sets energy efficiency standards in the industry, thereby providing a robust foundation for planning artificial intelligence solutions.
The PM9E1 achieves sequential read and write speeds that exceed those generated by the previous version by more than double, reaching up to 14.5 gigabytes per second (GB/s) for reading and 13 GB/s for writing. This enables highly efficient data transfers, even for applications that require resource-intensive use, such as large language models, allowing a 14 GB model to be transferred to DRAM in less than a second.
This SSD is offered in several storage capacities, including 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and an impressive 4 TB option, which is particularly suitable for those requiring space for large files, such as AI-generated content and high-resolution videos. Additionally, the notable improvement in energy efficiency, exceeding 50%, contributes to a longer battery life, which is crucial for artificial intelligence applications integrated into devices.
From a security standpoint, Samsung has implemented the SPDM v1.2 protocol, which incorporates technologies such as "Secure Channel," "Device Authentication," and "Firmware Tampering Attestation," all designed to mitigate security risks that may arise in the supply chain.