SanDisk Pushes SSD Speeds Higher While Keeping Power Consumption Low
Generally, the faster an SSD gets, the more power it draws. SanDisk has broken that rule with its new PCIe 5.0 SSD line, which reaches the maximum speed of the current interface while using about the same amount of power as modern Gen4 drives.
At an investor event last week, SanDisk, the flash storage division of Western Digital, announced two new SSD platforms that balance performance and value.
PCIe 5.0 SSD - Breaking Performance Limits
Leading the high-end segment is the PCIe 5.0 SSD, expected to push this interface to its ceiling. According to Tom’s Hardware, the 2TB version reaches sequential read speeds of up to 14,500 MB/s and sequential write speeds of 14,000 MB/s. Notably, it draws only 7W of power, an impressive figure for a high-speed SSD.
For comparison, most current Gen4 SSDs also draw around 7W, while the fastest Gen5 models on the market can consume close to 10W at peak load. Several sources suggest this SSD may use the Silicon Motion SM2508 controller, which is known for its strong performance per watt.
The new SSD is built on SanDisk's high-performance TLC NAND platform, sharing technology with the WD Black premium gaming SSD line. When it launches in the second quarter of 2025, it will come in capacities from 512GB to 4TB, serving everyone from gamers to professional users.
SanDisk Also Expands Budget SSDs With a QLC Gen4 Platform
Alongside the premium PCIe 5.0 line, SanDisk also introduced a budget SSD platform that uses QLC NAND and sticks with a PCIe 4.0 connection, with a maximum capacity of 2TB. One product on this platform is the Western Digital PC SN5100S, which delivers 53% higher random read speeds and 44% higher random write speeds than its predecessor, the SN5000S.
SanDisk has big ambitions for QLC NAND, a type of memory with higher storage density but a shorter lifespan than TLC. The company aims to have 75% of its product portfolio using QLC NAND by 2028, while preparing for a complete shift from PCIe Gen4 to PCIe Gen5 in the same timeframe.
Built on Advanced 3D BiCS8 NAND Technology
Both new SSD lines will use the latest 3D BiCS8 NAND flash technology from Western Digital, aimed at optimizing performance and storage capacity.
Despite the branding changes, SanDisk continues to show a clear commitment to innovation in flash storage. With a powerful, energy-efficient PCIe 5.0 SSD and a strategy to make QLC mainstream, SanDisk is moving steadily toward shaping the future of the SSD market.
