SanDisk, now operating as Western Digital’s dedicated flash storage brand, has unveiled a new flagship SSD set to push PCIe 5.0 speeds to their limits while maintaining an ultra-efficient 7W power draw. This cutting-edge drive, introduced during the Investor Day 2025 presentation, promises to be one of the most power-efficient PCIe Gen 5 SSDs available when it launches in Q2 2025.
SanDisk’s New Direction: A Focus on Flash Storage
Following its rebranding, SanDisk has fully transitioned into Western Digital’s exclusive flash storage division, separating itself from the company's HDD-focused operations. To mark its return to the market, SanDisk is launching two new SSD platforms:
- A value-oriented QLC NAND platform targeting cost-conscious consumers.
- A high-performance TLC NAND platform designed for enthusiasts and gamers.
The high-performance SSD will leverage Western Digital and Kioxia’s cutting-edge BiCS8 3D NAND technology, delivering top-tier speeds while maintaining exceptional power efficiency.
The yet-to-be-named flagship SSD from SanDisk will take full advantage of PCIe 5.0 bandwidth, boasting sequential read speeds of 14,500 MB/s and write speeds of 14,000 MB/s. Even more impressive is its maximum power draw of just 7W, significantly lower than most current PCIe Gen 5 SSDs, which typically consume around 10W.
With these specs, the drive is poised to become the most efficient full-speed PCIe Gen 5 SSD at launch. Many high-performance PCIe Gen 4 SSDs still exceed 7W power draw, making this new SanDisk drive a remarkable leap forward in power efficiency.
Industry speculation suggests the SSD could be one of the first retail drives to feature Silicon Motion’s SM2508 controller, known for its high efficiency. This controller has already demonstrated exceptional power-saving capabilities in testing, making it a strong candidate for SanDisk’s upcoming release.
Khurram Ismail, Senior VP of Engineering and Product Management at SanDisk, expressed confidence in the new drive, stating:
“This is absolutely going to be the best-in-class product in the industry. Gamers and OEMs are going to love this product.”
Alongside the high-performance drive, SanDisk’s TLC-based platform will also house the WD Black gaming SSDs, already available on SanDisk’s website. Meanwhile, the QLC-based platform will continue using PCIe 4.0 but will receive an upgrade to BiCS8 3D NAND technology, improving performance across the board.
A key product from this lineup will be the Western Digital PC SN5100S, featuring:
- 53% faster random read speeds
- 44% faster random write speeds
compared to its predecessor, the Western Digital PC SN5000S.
The Future of SanDisk: QLC and PCIe 5.0 Domination
SanDisk also outlined its long-term vision, which includes:
- Scaling up QLC NAND adoption, aiming for 75% of its SSDs to use QLC NAND by 2028.
- Phasing out PCIe Gen 4 SSDs entirely by 2028, shifting all consumer drives to PCIe Gen 5.
Despite QLC NAND’s traditionally shorter lifespan compared to TLC, SanDisk is betting on its potential to increase SSD capacities without significantly compromising performance.
Final Thoughts
SanDisk’s return to the SSD market is marked by aggressive innovation, with its PCIe 5.0 SSD standing out for its exceptional speed and efficiency. As the company moves toward a QLC-dominant future and explores GPU memory solutions, it is clear that SanDisk is positioning itself as a major force in the next generation of flash storage technology.
0 comments:
Post a Comment