When Intel's first server platform with PCIe 5.0 starts next year, Samsung will also offer one of the first enterprise SSDs with PCIe 5.0. The Samsung PM1743 in the form factor E3.S uses PCIe 5.0 x4 or two PCIe 5.0 x2 in dual port mode.
Just in time for the start of Sapphire Rapids
A Samsung document draws attention to the PCIe Gen5 SSD PM1743, according to which availability is planned for the second quarter of 2022. The date matches the schedule for Intel's server CPUs from the Sapphire Rapids family, which will initially be produced in small numbers in the first quarter of 2022 and in large-scale production by the end of the second quarter of 2022 at the latest. Sapphire Rapids not only brings with it the debut of DDR5 memory, but also the PCIe 5.0 interface with a data rate of almost 4 GB/s per lane that is doubled compared to PCIe 4.0.
Samsung PM1743 uses PCIe 5.0 x4
For the Samsung SSD with PCIe 5.0 x4, this means a gross data rate of around 16 GB/s on the interface side. Less overhead and depending on the performance of the NAND flash and controller, lower net transfer rates are to be expected. It is likely that Samsung will again use a self-developed SSD controller, but it remains to be seen. Among the external controller providers, Marvell has already presented PCIe 5.0 SSD controllers from the Bravera SC5 family, which should achieve a peak of 14 GB/s.
The Samsung PM1743 is planned in the E3.S form factor, which is one of the new EDSFF standards for server SSDs. This means that the board measures around 10.5 cm in length and 7.6 cm in width. A housing, which is also used for cooling, can be seen in the picture. The guaranteed durability is 1 Drive Write Per Day (DWPD).
18 mm (up to 40 W) max. 5.9 mm 7.5 mm 16.8 mm 7.5 mm 16.8 mm Connection x4/x8 x4 x4/x8/x16 Power consumption (max.) 25/40 W 12 W 35 W 70 W 20 W 40 W
The NAND flash is supposed to be a TLC memory with 3 bits per cell from the sixth generation 3D-NAND alias V-NAND V6 from Samsung. The V7-NAND with 176 layers, which has also been announced for PCIe 5.0 SSDs, is not yet in use.
About a year ago, Samsung had an enterprise SSD with the PM9A3 presented in the leaner E1.S format, which still uses PCIe 4.0 x4 and achieves a maximum of 6,500 MB/s.
Note: The cover picture shows the Samsung 980 Pro from the Consumer segment and has a symbolic character.