🏠IT之家•Freshcollected in 1m
Samsung to launch DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 990 SSD
💡New budget-friendly storage option for AI edge computing and local development environments.
⚡ 30-Second TL;DR
What Changed
Supports PCIe 4.0 interface for mainstream performance
Why It Matters
This release signals a shift toward cost-effective storage solutions for AI workstations and edge devices that don't require high-endurance DRAM-based drives.
What To Do Next
Evaluate whether your local AI inference or data processing workloads can benefit from HMB-enabled storage to reduce hardware costs.
Who should care:Developers & AI Engineers
🧠 Deep Insight
AI-generated analysis for this event.
🔑 Enhanced Key Takeaways
- •The drive utilizes Samsung's latest V-NAND technology, likely 8th or 9th generation, to achieve high density without a dedicated DRAM cache.
- •The controller is a proprietary Samsung-designed DRAM-less controller optimized for low-power consumption in mobile and thin-and-light laptop environments.
- •HMB (Host Memory Buffer) implementation allows the drive to leverage a small portion of the host system's RAM to cache the Flash Translation Layer (FTL) mapping table.
- •The 990 DRAM-less variant is positioned as a cost-effective alternative to the flagship 990 Pro, targeting the entry-level to mid-range DIY and OEM upgrade markets.
- •Thermal management is handled via a thin copper-foil label or integrated heat spreader design, differing from the bulky heatsinks found on the Pro series.
📊 Competitor Analysis▸ Show
| Feature | Samsung 990 (DRAM-less) | WD Blue SN580 | Crucial P3 Plus | Kingston NV2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | DRAM-less (HMB) | DRAM-less (HMB) | DRAM-less (HMB) | DRAM-less (HMB) |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max Read | 7150 MB/s | 4150 MB/s | 5000 MB/s | 3500 MB/s |
| Target Market | Mainstream/Performance | Value/Mainstream | Budget/Value | Entry-Level |
🛠️ Technical Deep Dive
- Controller: Proprietary Samsung DRAM-less NVMe controller supporting PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
- NAND Type: High-layer count TLC (Triple-Level Cell) V-NAND.
- HMB Support: Utilizes Host Memory Buffer to reduce latency by caching mapping tables in system RAM.
- Power Efficiency: Optimized for low idle power states (L1.2) to extend battery life in portable devices.
- Form Factor: M.2 2280 single-sided design to ensure compatibility with ultra-thin laptops.
🔮 Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources
Samsung will phase out DRAM-based entry-level SSDs.
The performance gains of HMB technology in PCIe 4.0 drives make DRAM-less architectures sufficient for the vast majority of consumer workloads.
Market pricing for 2TB PCIe 4.0 drives will see downward pressure.
Samsung's entry into the DRAM-less segment with a high-performance controller forces competitors to lower margins to maintain market share.
⏳ Timeline
2022-10
Samsung launches the flagship 990 Pro with DRAM cache.
2023-09
Samsung releases the 990 Pro with Heatsink variant.
2024-05
Samsung expands 990 Pro series with 4TB capacity model.
2026-07
Samsung announces the DRAM-less 990 PCIe 4.0 SSD.
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Original source: IT之家 ↗