Silicon Movement has demonstrated working solid-state drives primarily based on its first platform for SSDs that includes a PCIe 5.0 interface. The SM8366-based drives used several types of reminiscence from different producers, which signifies that SMI is working with all makers of 3D NAND to supply most flexibility to its companions. Relating to efficiency, the SSDs have been sooner when in comparison with one competing platform however slower than one other.
The demo drive that SMI showcased on the Open Compute Mission (OCP) discussion board provided a sequential learn efficiency of 13.6 GBps and a random learn efficiency of three.4 million IOPS, in response to Storage Evaluation (opens in new tab). Relating to sequential velocity, SMI’s SM8366-based drive was somewhat slower than Samsung’s PM1743 SSD (which affords as much as 13.8 GBps) however was a bit forward of Phison’s PS5026-E26-based drive (that provides as much as 12.4 GBps when outfitted with a very good reminiscence).
Silicon Movement’s MonTitan SM8366 SSD platform (opens in new tab) is designed primarily for enterprise-grade SSDs. It options 16 NAND flash channels with a 2400 MTps ONFI/Toggle interface to attach as much as 128TB of 3D TLC, 3D QLC, or XL-Flash reminiscence. The controller helps DDR4-3200 and DDR5-4800 DRAM buffers with a dual-channel interface and a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface or twin unbiased x2/x2 or x1/x1 interfaces to hook up with host (s). Against this, Phison’s E26 is aimed primarily at high-performance consumer-grade SSDs and options eight NAND channels. Whereas the PS5026-E26 can nonetheless serve enterprise-grade drives, shopper drives are its essential utility.
Silicon Movement has now validated its SM8366 platform with Kioxia’s BICS6 3D TLC NAND, Micron’s N48R 3D QLC NAND, and Micron’s B58R 3D TLC NAND reminiscence. As well as, the corporate affords a number of reference designs for its newest enterprise-oriented SSD controller, together with in type components akin to E1.S, E1.L E3.x, and U.2/3. Historically SMI’s shoppers can purchase a turnkey answer from the corporate with commonplace configuration and firmware or can develop their customized answer with their firmware.
Silicon Movement’s MonTitan SM8366 SSD platform must be obtainable to early engagement prospects this quarter reference {hardware} design kits with licensable turnkey and layered firmware stacks to allow the event of customer-differentiated options. Retaining in thoughts that many members of the Open Compute Mission run their information facilities, it’s possible that a few of them will deploy the primary SMI-powered SSDs with a PCIe Gen5 x4 interface already within the coming months. Others will look forward to drive makers to construct SSDs for them.
Silicon Movement will introduce its consumer-oriented controller for PCIe Gen5 drives in 2023.