SSD interface knowledge
2022-04-14
In the past two years, with the improvement of technology and the decline of cost, SSD has gradually become the standard of newly installed machines or mainstream notebooks. In view of the development of science and technology industry in 2020, insiders sorted out and released ten science and technology trends. Including NAND flash process technology, which will break through the 100 layer stack for the first time and increase the single chip capacity from 512gb to 1TB. SSD products based on NAND flash will import PCIe G4 interface which is twice as fast as PCIe G3 in speed and efficiency.
In fact, in addition to PCIe, the mainstream SSD also has SATA, m.2, msata and other interface technologies. It can be said that the interface world of SSD is quite "chaotic".
So what are the differences between these SSD interfaces? What platform is it suitable for? Next, this article will be revealed one by one!
1、SATA 3.0
SATA revision 3.0 (hereinafter referred to as sata3.0 or SATA 6gbps), which represents the SATA revision 3.0 standard and faster.
SATA is the standard specification of hard disk interface. In fact, SATA 6gbps interface is a non-standard statement. The correct statement is SATA III (sata3.0), and the interface speed is 6gbps. Of course, everyone is used to saying that. This is the most common mechanical hard disk / solid state disk interface on the market. Most people buy hard disks using this interface.
The biggest advantage of SATA 6gbps (sata3.0) is that it is very mature and can give full play to the maximum performance of mainstream SSDs. It should be noted that the motherboards of some old computers may only have sata2 0. Because the maximum supported speed of this kind of interface is limited, it can not give full play to the performance of SSD. Therefore, some old computers or computer users with old motherboards generally do not recommend upgrading SSD unless sata3 is replaced 0's motherboard.
2. Msata interface
This interface is the product specification of the new mini SATA (msata) interface controller developed by SATA Association. The new controller allows SATA technology to be integrated into small-scale devices. Msata also provides the same speed and reliability as the SATA interface standard, and provides system developers and manufacturers of small-size CE products (such as notebooks / netbooks) with more efficient and cost-effective storage solutions.
This interface is mainly used for notebooks that pay attention to miniaturization, such as business books, ultrabooks, etc. desktop computers and mainstream notebooks are still sata3 0
In fact, msata interface can also be said to be a necessary process for SSD miniaturization. Of course, msata also has some defects of SATA. For example, it is still a SATA channel and the speed is still 6gbps.
3. PCIe interface
At the beginning of the development of SSD with SATA interface, SSD with PCIe interface has appeared, and the advantage of the latter can be said to be very obvious. No matter what kind of PCIe interface is used, it is a direct step from PCIe to SATA.
However, PCIe hard disk is mainly used in the enterprise market at the beginning, because it requires different controllers. Therefore, on the basis of performance improvement, the cost is also much higher. As for the consumer market, the demand is not high. It is only in the past two years that PCIe hard disk has become popular in the high-end consumer market. At present, PCIe has come to the fifth generation, and its interface speed is two times higher than that of the fourth generation and four times higher than that of the third generation.
4. M.2 interface
M. 2 formerly known as ngff interface, this is a new generation interface standard tailored for ultrabook, which is mainly used to replace msata interface. Whether in terms of very small size or transmission performance, this interface is much better than msata interface. It is precisely because of the increasingly prominent interface bottleneck of SATA that many motherboard manufacturers have begun to reserve m.2 interfaces on the product line.
M. 2 interface can support PCIe channel and SATA at the same time, and the former is easier to improve speed. At the beginning, the interface adopts PCIe 2.0 x2 channel with a theoretical bandwidth of 10Gbps. It can be said that it also breaks through the theoretical transmission bottleneck of SATA interface.
Today's m.2 interface is fully turned to PCIe 3.0 X4 channel, and the theoretical bandwidth has reached 32gbps, which is much higher than the previous level, which also greatly improves the performance potential of SSD. In addition, the interface SSD also supports the nvme standard. Compared with the current AHCI, the SSD accessed through the new nvme standard has a very obvious performance improvement.
5. SATA express interface
After the SATA 6gbps speed, it is more difficult for the SATA interface to improve the speed. Although the SAS interface can reach the speed of 12gbps, it is only aimed at the enterprise market, and great changes have been made to the original interface, which is not sensitive to cost. However, this cannot be the case in the face of the consumer market. We must consider the practical problems. Sata-io finally came up with the solution of SATA express interface.
In fact, its physical interface is transformed from SATA 6gbps interface, which has been launched in the market for several years. However, judging from the current market share, the product still has a long way to popularize. The only sensible thing about this product is that it is downward compatible with SATA 6gbps interface.
6. U.2 interface
U. 2 what is the interface? I believe everyone has never heard of it! Its nickname is sff-8639, which is an interface specification launched by SSD form factor work group.
U. 2 can not only support SATA express specification, but also be compatible with SAS, SATA and other specifications. Therefore, you can regard it as a four channel version of SATA express interface. Its theoretical bandwidth has reached 32gbps, which is no different from the m.2 interface.
7. SAS interface
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is a computer hub technology. Its function is mainly the interface designed for data transmission of peripheral parts, such as hard disk, CD-ROM and other devices. SAS is mainly used in the enterprise market,
There are many forms of SAS interface connectors. The first generation SAS was invented in 2005. At present, it is planned to launch the fourth generation around 2017.
8. Edsff interface
In 2017, Intel, together with many industry giants, proposed a new form of SSD code named "ruler", which is specially built for high-density and high-performance servers and data centers. In early 2018, the industry standard edsff (enterprise and data center storage form) was formed and soon widely adopted.
Edsff is mainly divided into two specifications: long and short. The long one is called edsff 1U long, or E1 for short 50. It is very similar to the rule originally proposed by Intel. It is very suitable for high-density storage. There are two thicknesses: 18 mm and 9.5 mm. From a technical perspective, the edsff standard SSD can easily surpass the performance of the m.2 module. Others believe that edsff will perfectly replace m.2 in the future.
Summary
Although the interfaces of solid-state drives on the market are indeed very messy, they are still dominated by SATA, msata, m.2 and PCIe. In terms of cost performance and technical maturity, sata3 0 interface occupies the vast majority of the market. Most desktop computers and mainstream notebooks directly adopt SATA interface, which is compatible with traditional mechanical hard disk and new solid state hard disk. This interface will also be mainstream for a long time in the future. For some high-end players, m.2 interface solid-state drive can be considered.
In fact, in addition to PCIe, the mainstream SSD also has SATA, m.2, msata and other interface technologies. It can be said that the interface world of SSD is quite "chaotic".
So what are the differences between these SSD interfaces? What platform is it suitable for? Next, this article will be revealed one by one!
1、SATA 3.0
SATA revision 3.0 (hereinafter referred to as sata3.0 or SATA 6gbps), which represents the SATA revision 3.0 standard and faster.
SATA is the standard specification of hard disk interface. In fact, SATA 6gbps interface is a non-standard statement. The correct statement is SATA III (sata3.0), and the interface speed is 6gbps. Of course, everyone is used to saying that. This is the most common mechanical hard disk / solid state disk interface on the market. Most people buy hard disks using this interface.
The biggest advantage of SATA 6gbps (sata3.0) is that it is very mature and can give full play to the maximum performance of mainstream SSDs. It should be noted that the motherboards of some old computers may only have sata2 0. Because the maximum supported speed of this kind of interface is limited, it can not give full play to the performance of SSD. Therefore, some old computers or computer users with old motherboards generally do not recommend upgrading SSD unless sata3 is replaced 0's motherboard.
2. Msata interface
This interface is the product specification of the new mini SATA (msata) interface controller developed by SATA Association. The new controller allows SATA technology to be integrated into small-scale devices. Msata also provides the same speed and reliability as the SATA interface standard, and provides system developers and manufacturers of small-size CE products (such as notebooks / netbooks) with more efficient and cost-effective storage solutions.
This interface is mainly used for notebooks that pay attention to miniaturization, such as business books, ultrabooks, etc. desktop computers and mainstream notebooks are still sata3 0
In fact, msata interface can also be said to be a necessary process for SSD miniaturization. Of course, msata also has some defects of SATA. For example, it is still a SATA channel and the speed is still 6gbps.
3. PCIe interface
At the beginning of the development of SSD with SATA interface, SSD with PCIe interface has appeared, and the advantage of the latter can be said to be very obvious. No matter what kind of PCIe interface is used, it is a direct step from PCIe to SATA.
However, PCIe hard disk is mainly used in the enterprise market at the beginning, because it requires different controllers. Therefore, on the basis of performance improvement, the cost is also much higher. As for the consumer market, the demand is not high. It is only in the past two years that PCIe hard disk has become popular in the high-end consumer market. At present, PCIe has come to the fifth generation, and its interface speed is two times higher than that of the fourth generation and four times higher than that of the third generation.
4. M.2 interface
M. 2 formerly known as ngff interface, this is a new generation interface standard tailored for ultrabook, which is mainly used to replace msata interface. Whether in terms of very small size or transmission performance, this interface is much better than msata interface. It is precisely because of the increasingly prominent interface bottleneck of SATA that many motherboard manufacturers have begun to reserve m.2 interfaces on the product line.
M. 2 interface can support PCIe channel and SATA at the same time, and the former is easier to improve speed. At the beginning, the interface adopts PCIe 2.0 x2 channel with a theoretical bandwidth of 10Gbps. It can be said that it also breaks through the theoretical transmission bottleneck of SATA interface.
Today's m.2 interface is fully turned to PCIe 3.0 X4 channel, and the theoretical bandwidth has reached 32gbps, which is much higher than the previous level, which also greatly improves the performance potential of SSD. In addition, the interface SSD also supports the nvme standard. Compared with the current AHCI, the SSD accessed through the new nvme standard has a very obvious performance improvement.
5. SATA express interface
After the SATA 6gbps speed, it is more difficult for the SATA interface to improve the speed. Although the SAS interface can reach the speed of 12gbps, it is only aimed at the enterprise market, and great changes have been made to the original interface, which is not sensitive to cost. However, this cannot be the case in the face of the consumer market. We must consider the practical problems. Sata-io finally came up with the solution of SATA express interface.
In fact, its physical interface is transformed from SATA 6gbps interface, which has been launched in the market for several years. However, judging from the current market share, the product still has a long way to popularize. The only sensible thing about this product is that it is downward compatible with SATA 6gbps interface.
6. U.2 interface
U. 2 what is the interface? I believe everyone has never heard of it! Its nickname is sff-8639, which is an interface specification launched by SSD form factor work group.
U. 2 can not only support SATA express specification, but also be compatible with SAS, SATA and other specifications. Therefore, you can regard it as a four channel version of SATA express interface. Its theoretical bandwidth has reached 32gbps, which is no different from the m.2 interface.
7. SAS interface
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is a computer hub technology. Its function is mainly the interface designed for data transmission of peripheral parts, such as hard disk, CD-ROM and other devices. SAS is mainly used in the enterprise market,
There are many forms of SAS interface connectors. The first generation SAS was invented in 2005. At present, it is planned to launch the fourth generation around 2017.
8. Edsff interface
In 2017, Intel, together with many industry giants, proposed a new form of SSD code named "ruler", which is specially built for high-density and high-performance servers and data centers. In early 2018, the industry standard edsff (enterprise and data center storage form) was formed and soon widely adopted.
Edsff is mainly divided into two specifications: long and short. The long one is called edsff 1U long, or E1 for short 50. It is very similar to the rule originally proposed by Intel. It is very suitable for high-density storage. There are two thicknesses: 18 mm and 9.5 mm. From a technical perspective, the edsff standard SSD can easily surpass the performance of the m.2 module. Others believe that edsff will perfectly replace m.2 in the future.
Summary
Although the interfaces of solid-state drives on the market are indeed very messy, they are still dominated by SATA, msata, m.2 and PCIe. In terms of cost performance and technical maturity, sata3 0 interface occupies the vast majority of the market. Most desktop computers and mainstream notebooks directly adopt SATA interface, which is compatible with traditional mechanical hard disk and new solid state hard disk. This interface will also be mainstream for a long time in the future. For some high-end players, m.2 interface solid-state drive can be considered.
