What will be next of M.2 – with more capacity SSD for Data Center needs – EDSFF GEN Z 1C 2C 4C or NGSFF NF1 M.3
M.2 has been marketing for many years. When people use to PCIe base SSD transfer rate up to 30Gbps. As we know PCIe base transfer rate is few times fast than SATA SSD. M.2 supports with PCIe Gen 3 spec, it can also support PCIe Gen 4 too. But it has one thing – PCB length. M.2 lengthiest is 22110. In the marketing it needs big and bag’s capacity. 22110 it is limit. It cannot add more capacity. Therefore, Intel has release GEN Z 1C EDSFF. It has few different types
GEN Z 1C supports PCIe x 4 lanes
GEN Z 2C supports PCIe x 8 lanes
GEN Z 4C supports PCIe 16 lanes
GEN Z 1C PCIe Adpater Card
GEN Z 1C M.2 Adapter Card
M.2 GEN Z 1C Adapter Card
GEN Z 2C PCIe Adapter Card
Also it has different PCB’s length size. That will help to have big capacity to meet storage marketing need.
Why M.2 does not enough?
M.2 spec, it is still good for all users. Laptop is still using M.2 M key or B Key SSD. Because it supports up to 22110 PCB size. It is length size for M.2 spec. It is also best size for Laptop’s storage too.
MIni PCI Express to B / M Key M.2 Card
GEN Z 1C size
It support PCIe * 4 Lanes, it has few different size EDSFF 1U short and EDSFF 1U Long. The PCB size is EDSFF short 32 mm * 112 mm * 6-8 mm, and ESDFF Long is 38 mm * 319 mm * 9.5 or 18mm. The EDSFF short, is also good for Laptop or Desktop use. It is closed to M.2 22110, and it can add more storage capacity.
GEN Z 2C
It supports PCIe 8 Lanes, it will supports more fast transfer rate. It needs to wait more PCIe SSD into the marketing. That we can get 1pcs, and test it, what the different between GEN Z 1C. The PCB size also has two size EDSFF 3” short 76 mm * 105 mm * 7.5 mm or EDSFF 3” Long 76mm * 142 mm * 7.5 mm. It also has other size EDSFF 3” short 76 mm * 105 mm * 16.8 mm or EDSFF 3” Long 76mm * 142 mm * 16.8 mm.
GEN Z 4C
From the spec, It supports PCIe * 16 Lanes spec. I have been search this type SSD, but I do not find any pcs of product. If it has PCIe SSD product, The transfer rate will be amazing
GEN Z 1C 2C 4C connector ( EDSFF ) only for Storage
The new GEN Z connector will only use with storage. It is all information we can find. GEN Z it is under PCIe spec. It also sends supports with PCIe other interface.
Embedded PCIe interface
It would use with Embedded system for Add-on Card connector. As we know M.2 also can use with PCIe interface products – A Key E Key B Key and M Key. Each Key can supports PCIe interface, too. Therefore, GEN Z would also support no only Storage. It would you USB 4.0 or Thunderbolt, HDMI spec, Graphic card too.
NGSFF ( NF1 M.3 )
Go for next generation PCIe SSD, it is not only EDSFF ( GEN Z ), it has also NGSFF NF1 or M.3. It is good choice; the connector is same as M.2. But the PCB size is different M.2 is 22110, but NGSFF is 31 mm * 110 mm. The PCB size changed, it needs to add more capacity.
Next battlefield of EDSFF and NGSFF
Laptop or Desktop’s storage are not EDSFF and NGSFF’s battlefield – data Center ( Storage Center ) Both spec can save more room space. That is next step of both
2.5” 3.5” HDD VS SSD
All we know storage center uses also of 3.5” or 2.5 HDD. And it needs to keep data in safety. It needs to use with RAID function of DATA center ( Storage Center ). And it needs more and more HDDs. Also it costs High working temperature. It needs more way to cool down data center. 2.5” or 3.5” needs more room space. Even use 2.5” SSD too. What will be next?
mSATA, M.2 B key M key SSD
When storage move from 2.5” 3.5” to SSD, it has few type spec in the marketing 2.5” SATA SSD, mSATA, B key SATA, B key PCIe * 2 lanes, and M key PCIe * 4 Lanes. So many types SSD in the marketing. And the most import capacity is too small for data center needs. mSATA, B key and M key are only good for Laptop or Desktop use. It is not enough for data center yet.
EDSFF and NGSFF
Data Center also care about working temperature. Because in a room, it has thousand and thousand HDD or SDD. It will cost high temperature. That is why it needs to add more fans. When go next steps – EDSFF or NGSFF, it can add heat sink on each SSD. That can cool down SSD temperature. When temperature down. It has few points – SSD life will be long, and Room temperature down too.
Other point Data center cares
Working temperature, storage life cycle, and capacity, Data center is care for. Also one thing also care too – easy to remove and add SSD. Before M.2 does not have this point, because it is no big marketing share with data center marketing. But EDSFF it faces on this point. We can easy to find EDSFF with case and it also designs with 1U spec data center case.
GEN Z, if it is only using for storage, it is only one function. If it can use with other PCIe interface, it will be more useful. But it has one thing, most of PCIe interface only need PCIe * 1 lane. But EDSFF supports with PCIe * 4 Lanes. It will be other point for marketing to definition.
