Samsung has announced the SM951, a PCIe based SSD that's exceptionally small, capable of 2.2 GB/s reads (PCIe 3), is 80 x 22 mm and weighs just 6 grams. In standby mode, it consumes only 2 mW and could allow a notebook computer to sleep for months. It's rumored to be slated for the new MacBooks.
Image credit: Samsung
On January 7, Samsung released information about this new SSD.
The SM951 boasts outstanding performance, supporting both PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 2.0 interfaces. For use in the latest ultra-slim notebooks, it can read and write sequentially at 1,600 MB/s (megabytes per second) and 1,350 MB/s respectively based on PCIe 2.0...
If PCIe 3 is used, the numbers are dramatically higher with read and write sequentially at 2,150 MB/s and 1,550 MB/s respectively. Samsung says that's about four times faster sequential reading performance compared to current SATA SSDs. Samsung also noted:
In addition, the SM951 is the first SSD to adopt the L1.2 low power standby mode (which allows all high-speed circuits to be turned off when a PC is sleeping or in hibernation) as defined by PCI-SIG (the PCIe standards body). By embracing the L1.2 level of standby operation, the SM951’s power consumption is drastically reduced – to under 2mW, about a 97 percent decrease from the 50mW consumed using a L1 state.
This device is very small, as shown in the photo above. It's only 80 mm x 22 mm) and weighs just 6 grams. It will be available in capacities of 128, 256 and 512 GB.
Techradar in its own coverage believes that this SSD is slated for use in the next generation MacBook Airs and Pros and would allow sleep mode for months.
Concept by Martin Hajeck, based on next generation MBA rumors.