Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass producing the industry’s first 4-bit (QLC, quad-level cell) 4-terabyte (TB) SATA solid-state drive (SSD) for consumers.

Based on 1-terabit (Tb) V-NAND with outstanding performance equivalent to the company’s 3-bit design, Samsung’s QLC SSD is expected to bring a new level of efficiency to consumer SSDs.

“Samsung’s new 4-bit SATA SSD will herald a massive move to terabyte-SSDs for consumers,” said Jaesoo Han, executive vice president of memory sales & marketing at Samsung Electronics. “As we expand our lineup across consumer segments and to the enterprise, 4-bit terabyte-SSD products will rapidly spread throughout the entire market.”

With its new 1Tb 4-bit V-NAND chip, Samsung will be able to efficiently produce a 128GB memory card for smartphones that will lead the charge toward higher capacities for high-performance memory storage.

Typically, as data stored within a memory cell increases from three bits to four, the chip capacity per unit area would rise and the electrical charge (used to determine information from a sensor) would decrease by as much as 50 percent, making it considerably more difficult to maintain a device’s desired performance and speed.

However, Samsung’s 4-bit 4TB QLC SATA SSD maintains its performance levels at the same level as a 3-bit SSD, by using a 3-bit SSD controller and TurboWrite technology, while increasing drive capacity through the use of 32 chips, all based on 64-layer fourth-generation 1Tb V-NAND.*

The 4-bit QLC SSD enables a sequential read speed of 540 MB/s and a sequential write speed of 520 MB/s, and comes with a three-year warranty.

Samsung plans to introduce several 4-bit consumer SSDs later this year with 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities in the widely used 2.5-inch form factor.

Since introducing the 32-gigabyte (GB) 1-bit SSD in 2006, which ushered in the PC SSD era, to today’s 4TB 4-bit SSD, Samsung continues to drive new thresholds for each multi-bit generation.**

In addition, the company expects to provide M.2 NVMe SSDs for the enterprise this year and begin mass production of 4-bit fifth-generation V-NAND. This will considerably expand its SSD lineup to meet the growing demand for faster, more reliable performance across a wide span of applications, such as next generation data centers, enterprise servers, and enterprise storage.

*1Tb (128GB) x 32 = 4TB (4,096GB)

**Samsung’s mass production history of SSDs in bits per cell

Samsung Electronics, today introduced the Samsung 970 PRO and EVO, the third generation of its industry-leading consumer solid state drive (SSD) lineup. Having led the market with the first consumer-focused NVMe SSD in 2015, Samsung continues to push the performance barriers with this latest generation of SSDs that are built for tech enthusiasts and professionals so that they can enjoy higher bandwidth for intensive workloads on PCs and workstations.

“Samsung has led the NVMe SSD industry since its inception, and the company continues to define the latest standards of consumer storage with unprecedented performance of the 970 PRO and EVO SSDs,” said Un-Soo Kim, senior vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. “The 970 series sets a new bar in all aspects for the NVMe SSD market with groundbreaking performance, superior reliability and best-in-class capacity.”

The Samsung 970 PRO and EVO are designed based on the M.2 form factor standard and with the latest PCIe Gen 3×4 lane interface. The 970 series maximizes the potential of NVMe bandwidth, delivering unparalleled performance for processing large volumes of data, including 3D, 4K graphics work, high-end games and data analytics.

The 970 PRO enables sequential read speed of up to 3,500 MB/s and sequential write speed of up to 2,700 MB/s¹, while the EVO features sequential read speed of up to 3,500 MB/s and sequential write speed of up to 2,500 MB/s². The sequential write speeds represent an enhancement of up to 30 percent over the previous generation³, thanks to Samsung’s latest V-NAND technology and the newly designed Phoenix controller. The 970 EVO, in particular, utilizes the Intelligent TurboWrite technology, which uses a large buffer size of up to 78GB⁴ to enable faster write speeds.

In addition to the advancements in performance levels, the 970 PRO and EVO deliver exceptional endurance and reliability. Featuring a five-year warranty⁵, or up to 1,200 terabytes written⁶ – 50 percent higher than those provided for the previous generation⁷ – the 970 PRO and EVO are built to last. The Dynamic Thermal Guard technology safeguards against overheating by automatically monitoring and maintaining optimal operating temperatures, while a heat spreader and new nickel-coated controller further lower the SSD temperatures.

The 970 PRO and EVO also provide greater system design flexibility for the high-performance computing systems. Offering a variety of high capacity options in a compact M.2 form factor – including the single-sided 2TB EVO model – the 970 series enables convenient storage expansion across a wide range of computing devices.

The 970 EVO will be offered in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB⁸ capacities, and the 970 PRO in 512GB and 1TB capacities. The 970 PRO and EVO will be available for purchase worldwide starting May 7, 2018, with manufacturer’s suggested retail prices starting at $329.99 and $119.99 USD, respectively. For more information, including warranty details, please visit www.samsung.com/SSD, www.samsungssd.com.

Key Specifications

* Five years or TBW, whichever comes first

¹ 970 PRO and EVO performance may vary based on SSD’s firmware version, system hardware and configuration. Performance measurements based on IOmeter 1.1.0. *Test system configuration: Intel Core i7-7700K CPU @4.2GHz, DDR4 2400MHz 32GB, OS-Windows 10 Built 10240, Chipset–ASUS PRIME Z270-A.

² Performance may vary based on SSD’s firmware version, system hardware and configuration. Performance measurements based on IOmeter 1.1.0.
Write performance measurements are based on Intelligent TurboWrite technology.
The sequential write performances after TurboWrite region are: 300 MB/s(250GB), 600 MB/s(500GB), 1,200 MB/s(1TB) and 1,250 MB/s(2TB).
The random write performances after TurboWrite region are: 80,000 IOPS(250GB), 160,000 IOPS(500GB) and 300,000 IOPS(1TB/2TB).
* Test system configuration: Intel Core i7-7700K CPU @4.2GHz, DDR4 2400MHz 32GB, OS-Windows 10 Built 10240, Chipset–ASUS PRIME Z270-A.

³ Up to 29% and 32% in sequential write speeds, respectively, have increased when compared to Samsung 960 PRO and EVO.

⁴ 970 EVO Intelligent TurboWrite buffer size varies based on the capacity of the SSD: 13GB for 250GB model, 22GB for 500GB model, 42GB for 1TB model and 78GB for 2TB model. For more information on the TurboWrite, please visit www.samsungssd.com.

⁵ Five years or TBW, whichever comes first. For more information on the warranty, please find the enclosed warranty document in the package.

⁶ Warrantied TBW(Total byte written) for 970 PRO: 600TB for 512GB model, 1,200TB for 1TB model; Warrantied TBW(Total byte written) for 970 EVO: 150TB for 250GB model, 300TB for 500GB model, 600TB for 1TB model, 1,200TB for 2TB.

⁷ 50% increase when compared to Samsung 960 PRO and EVO.

⁸ 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes by IDEMA. A certain portion of capacity may be used for system file and maintenance use, so the actual capacity may differ from what is indicated on the product label.

The speed of the Samsung 970 PRO and EVO SSD that unlocks a new level of computing performance is unveiled in the video. The new line of SSDs can completely transform how tech enthusiasts and professionals think about computing, forming a vital piece of the puzzle to making the best of high-performance computing system.

For high performance PC users looking to process large volumes of data for 3D and 4K graphics work, high end games, or data analytics, the 970 series sets a new standard. The new SSDs have improved write speeds that are up to 30 percent in sequential write speeds, 50 percent in random write speeds better than the previous generation, thanks to Samsung’s latest V-NAND technology and the newly designed Phoenix controller. The NVMe interface allows for industry-leading performance and sequential read/write speeds up to 3500MB/s, 2700MB/s . With the new 970 PRO and EVO, Samsung has once again set a precedent for consumer-focused NVMe SSDs – a market the company has led since its inception in 2015.

Check out how the 970 PRO and EVO make all the difference in this video below.

This NVMe SSD 970 video is a continuation of the previous generation’s launch video, which portrayed the SSD 960 pioneering new possibilities in outer space. Check out the Samsung NVMe SSD 960 video here.

The newest additions to the world’s best-selling SSD series* have been engineered with Samsung’s latest V-NAND technology to handle everything from everyday computing to heavy workloads with ease, offering users the perfect combination of speed, endurance and compatibility. Check out the SSD robots’ epic training montage in the video below.

*Sources: NPD (US data from Jan. 2015 to Oct. 2017) and GfK (EU5 data from Jan. 2015 to Sep. 2017, China data from Jan. 2016 to Sep. 2017)

Samsung Electronics today introduced the 860 PRO and 860 EVO solid state drives (SSDs), the most up-to-date additions to the company’s SATA interface lineup. The products are aimed at consumers who require fast, reliable performance across various applications, from everyday computing to heavy workloads and graphic-intensive operations. Building on the successful launch of the 850 PRO and 850 EVO – the industry’s first consumer SSDs with V-NAND technology – the 860 PRO and 860 EVO achieve industry-leading performance for SATA SSDs, offering enhancements in speed, reliability, compatibility and capacity.

“The new 860 PRO and 860 EVO SSDs combine the latest 512Gb and 256Gb 64-layer V-NAND, up to 4GB LPDDR4 mobile DRAM and a new MJX controller to elevate the user experience for both consumers and businesses,” said Un-Soo Kim, senior vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung will continue to fuel meaningful innovations in the consumer SSD space and drive growth of the overall memory industry for years to come.”

As file sizes continue to increase with high-resolution photos and 4K videos, the need for faster data transfers and sustainable high performance over a longer period of time has become paramount for users. To address this need, Samsung’s 860 PRO and 860 EVO support up to 560 MB/s read and 530 MB/s write¹ speeds and offer unmatched reliability with an upgraded five-year limited warranty², or up to 4,800 terabytes written (TBW)³ for the 860 PRO and up to 2,400 TBW⁴ for the 860 EVO. The new MJX controller also enables faster communication with the host system. The controller is powerful enough to handle workstation storage, while improving Linux operating system compatibility.

The 860 PRO are available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB⁵ capacities, with the 4TB memory storage holding up to 114 hours and 30 minutes of 4K Ultra HD video. The 860 PRO is available in a widely compatible 2.5-inch form factor, which is ideal for PCs, laptops, workstations and NAS.

The 860 EVO come in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB⁶ capacities, in a 2.5-inch for PCs and laptops, as well as mSATA and M.2 form factors for ultra-slim computing applications. The 860 EVO has up to six times longer sustained performance than its predecessor due to enhanced Intelligent TurboWrite⁷ technology, with read and write speeds of up to 550 MB/s and 520 MB/s⁸, respectively.

The 860 PRO and 860 EVO SSDs are available from this month with manufacturer’s suggested retail prices starting at $139.99 and $94.99 USD, respectively. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/SSD, www.samsungssd.com.

Key Specifications

¹ Performance may vary based on SSD’s firmware version, system hardware and configuration. Performance measurements based on CrystalDiskMark v.5.0.2 and IOmeter 1.1.0. *Test system configuration: Intel Core i5-3550 CPU @ 3.3 GHz, DDR3 1333 MHz 4GB, OS – Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Chipset: ASUS P8H77-V

² Five years or TBW, whichever comes first. For more information on the warranty, please find the enclosed warranty document in the package.

^{3, 4} Warrantied TBW for 860 PRO: 300 TBW for 256GB model, 600 TBW for 512GB model, 1,200 TBW for 1TB model, 2,400 TBW for 2TB model and 4,800 TBW for 4TB model.

Warrantied TBW for 860 EVO: 150 TBW for 250GB model, 300 TBW for 500GB model, 600 TBW for 1TB model, 1,200 TBW for 2TB model and 2,400 TBW for 4TB model.

^{5, 6} 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes by IDEMA. A certain portion of capacity may be used for system file and maintenance use, so the actual capacity may differ from what is indicated on the product label.

⁷ The TurboWrite buffer size varies based on the capacity of the SSD; 12GB for 250GB model, 22GB for 500GB model, 42GB for 1TB model and 78GB for 2/4TB. For more information on the TurboWrite, please visit www.samsungssd.com.

⁸ Performance may vary based on SSD’s firmware version, system hardware & configuration. Sequential write performance measurements are based on Intelligent TurboWrite technology. Performance measurements based on CrystalDiskMark v.5.0.2 and IOmeter 1.1.0. The sequential write performances after Intelligent TurboWrite region are 300 MB/s for 250/500GB and 500 MB/s for 1TB.

⁹ Terabytes Written

The IDC* report, Worldwide Solid State Storage Quarterly Update CY 1Q16, shows that Samsung rose to the leader position in Enterprise SSD sales in Q1 of this year, with the IDC data showing Samsung at 32.4 percent compared to the second place finisher with 16.9 percent. This shows a sharp upswing in Enterprise SSD sales from Q4 of 2015 when Samsung was in a virtual dead heat with its closest competitor with about a 22 percent market share. For the year 2015, IDC showed Samsung with a 20.6 percent share.

“Lately, Samsung’s role in leading the movement to SSDs in the enterprise market has been quite impressive. Samsung’s success in supporting all-flash systems has fueled its rise in enterprise storage thanks to a broad portfolio of SSDs, including offering the highest densities as well as SATA, SAS and NVMe PCIe solutions,” said Jeff Janukowicz, research vice president, SSDs and Enabling Technologies, IDC.

Analyst firm Forward Insights** showed a slightly larger market lead for Samsung, reporting that in the first quarter of 2016, Samsung easily led the enterprise SSD market with a 34 percent share, well above the 19 percent share of the nearest competitor. This compares with a second place Samsung finish with 25 percent of Enterprise SSD market share in Q4 of 2015, according to the analyst firm.

“Samsung has sharply increased its presence in the enterprise storage market as server and flash-array OEMs are seeking to take advantage of the company’s technological leadership, 3D manufacturing and fast, reliable product delivery,” said Greg Wong, founder and principal analyst, Forward Insights. “Samsung is expected to maintain its market position in 2016 and possibly beyond as it leverages its leading position in 3D NAND technology,” he added.

Other industry analysts reported similar or higher market growth for Samsung, in showing it moving into the market share leadership position for enterprise SSDs. For one, TrendFocus*** charted Samsung with a 45 percent leadership position in Enterprise SSD market share for the first quarter of this year, rising from a second place finish with 26 percent share in the fourth quarter of last year.

“The enterprise market is a top Samsung memory focus, so it should come as no surprise that we have now also taken the lead in supplying SSDs to the enterprise, after years of leadership in the client market,” said Jim Elliott, corporate vice president, Memory Marketing, Samsung Semiconductor. “Our securing the No. 1 position in enterprise SSDs has been supported by market leading advances in flash density and performance, and continued success with our 3D V-NAND manufacturing and state-of-the-art controllers,” he added.

Showing rapid market growth in storage support for data centers worldwide, Samsung now has more than 18 SSD families in the enterprise, with a total of over 100 different SKUs.

Enterprise SSDs are designed to comply with the enterprise specifications of JESD218, developed by JEDEC – the industry’s primary standards body, and are intended for use inside servers and consolidated storage systems used in corporate data centers.

Samsung said its rapidly growing role as top SSD supplier in the enterprise follows on its leadership in client (PC) SSD sales over the past six years.

* IDC provides global, regional and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide with more than 1,100 analysts. IDC market share numbers are based on revenue.

** Forward Insights provides independent market intelligence, and global consulting and information services focusing on semiconductor memories, emerging memory technologies and solid state storage. Forward Insights market share numbers are based on revenue.

*** TrendFocus is a leading market research and consulting firm for the data storage industry providing detailed analysis of the entire industry supply chain. TrendFocus market share numbers are based on units shipped.

First revealed at the 2015 Flash Memory Summit in August, the 15.36TB SSD is based on a 12Gb/s Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interface, for use in enterprise storage systems. Because the PM1633a comes in a 2.5-inch form factor, enterprise storage managers can fit twice as many of the drives in a standard 19-inch, 2U rack, compared to an equivalent 3.5-inch storage drive.

“To satisfy an increasing market need for ultra-high-capacity SAS SSDs from leading enterprise storage system manufacturers, we are directing our best efforts toward meeting our customers’ SSD requests,” said Jung-bae Lee, Senior Vice President, Memory Product Planning and Application Engineering Team, Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to lead the industry with next-generation SSDs, using our advanced 3D V-NAND memory technology, in order to accelerate the growth of the premium memory market while delivering greater performance and efficiency to our customers.”

The unprecedented 15.36TB of data storage on a single SSD is enabled by combining 512 of Samsung’s 256Gb V-NAND memory chips. The 256Gb dies are stacked in 16 layers to form a single 512GB package, with a total of 32 NAND flash packages in the 15.36TB drive. Utilizing Samsung’s 3rd generation, 256-gigabit (Gb) V-NAND technology which stacks cell-arrays in 48 layers, the PM1633a line-up provides significant performance and reliability upgrades from its predecessor, the PM1633, which used Samsung’s 2nd generation, 32-layer, 128Gb V-NAND memory.

Samsung’s new PM1633a SSD provides the opportunity for significant improvements in the efficiency of IT system investments through its high storage capacity and exceptional performance. These performance gains stem from Samsung’s latest vertical NAND (V-NAND) flash technology, as well as the company’s proprietary controller and firmware technology.

The PM1633a SSD sports random read and write speeds of up to 200,000 and 32,000 IOPS respectively, and delivers sequential read and write speeds of up to 1,200MB/s. The random read IOPS performance is approximately 1,000 times that of SAS-type hard disks, while the sequential read and write speeds are over twice those of a typical SATA SSD. Inside the new SSD lie Samsung’s advanced controller units that support the 12Gb/s SAS interface, along with a total of 16GB of DRAM. Samsung also uses specially designed firmware that can access large amounts of high-density NAND flash concurrently.

The 15.36TB PM1633a drive supports 1 DWPD (drive writes per day), which means 15.36TB of data can be written every day on this single drive without failure, a level of reliability that will improve cost of ownership for enterprise storage systems. This drive can write from two to ten times as much data as typical SATA SSDs based on planar MLC and TLC NAND flash technologies.

Further, the drive boasts a highly dependable metadata protection mechanism in addition to featuring a data protection and restoration software tool in case of a momentary blackout, which make enterprise systems more stable and manageable.

Starting with the 15.36TB density, Samsung will provide a wide range of capacity options in its PM1633a SSD line-up – 7.68TB, 3.84TB, 1.92TB, 960-gigabyte (GB) and 480GB later this year. With more choices in storage capacity, Samsung is reinforcing the competitiveness in its SAS SSD line-up. The Samsung PM1633a SSD line-up is expected to rapidly become the overwhelming favorite over hard disks for enterprise storage systems.