The first SSD based on the PCIe 5.0 standard is already a reality in the Japanese market, and as such, being the first really super fast SSD, and different from the ‘normal’, we soon had some enthusiasts doing tests, as is the case of @momomo_us . Let’s try to figure out what’s worth?
First next-gen PCIe 5.0 SSD is fast but noisy
Therefore, this drive has now been released by CFD Gaming, a manufacturer that bets exclusively on the Japanese market. As for the technical specifications, we have a Phison E26 controller, as well as Micron B58R 3D TLC NAND memory chips. That is, a Phison reference design, with CFD branding on top. However, the brand offers this SSD in versions of 1TB, 2TB and 4TB.
That said, in addition to performance superior to any PCIe 4.0 SSD, but unfortunately still far from the theoretical limit of the PCIe 5.0 standard. This PCIe 5.0 SSD appears to have a very significant downside. What it is? Luck noise! (link)
Yes, this is one of the first SSDs to hit the market with an active cooling solution, as it is equipped with a 17*17mm fan, capable of reaching 21,000 RPM. It’s an irritating sound, and one that may well serve as a “window” into the future of high-speed storage.
As for the performance, you can see the image below to get an idea:
We are talking about an SSD capable of around 10 GB / s, without major difficulties. Which is already a very interesting performance level compared to the current 7 GB/s, but still far from the theoretical 14 GB/s of the new generation standard.
When are we going to see faster SSDs? Well, there will have to be a bet on memory controllers, and of course, on faster NAND memory chips. In addition, an improvement in cooling systems is needed, so that we don’t have SSDs making more noise than graphics cards or CPU coolers.
