For me having an external power supply for a USB device is a non starter. The whole beauty of USB is it's portability. Also I care not about faster sequential speeds once they reach about 1 or 2GB/sec, honestly I don't move huge files around often enough for that metric to matter. The random access numbers are more important and these new gen drives don't do any better than last gen. Seem like there is always a near useless metric for manufacturers to use to push new products on us that won't really offer performance benefits in real world usage. For SSD's it's sequential data rates when what they really need to focus on is random rates. For CPU's it's MT performance, when they really need to focus on ST performance, etc...
I agree, it will definitely not replace a pendrive. A tiny thing you can put anywhere, and forget it to exist for months. Still this can be very useful as mac backup machine for example. Fast storage means it will not take 2hours to backup stuff regularly, and it's not taking a lot of space. it likely can exist as a filler between people who need a regular NAS, and those who use random usb's as backup devices.
Is this not powered over the USB Type-C power delivery part of the connector/port that is USB4(Includes the TB3) protocol standard. So maybe that's powered via the Type-C port(?).
And see for the article here and this:
"The power delivery component of the Type-C specification is also implemented within the controller."
The 'PD' suffix of the ASMedia controller is for these two aspects:
Integrated UFP CC Logic for USB Type-C cable orientation and detection. Integrated BMC PHY for PD fixed 5V UFP/Sink mode.
The device can advertise itself to a host PC as requiring 5V fixed, without the need for other chips. Also, initial Type-C designs had to use a separate board component to detect Type-C cable orientation. That is not required with this ASMedia controller.
The desktop SSD requires the ability to supply power back to the host. So, that does involve extra circuitry on the board.
External HDDs (3.5") connecting over USB (regular DAS) are still quite popular, as both Seagate and WD are continuing to update those models with the top-capacity 20TB / 22TB drives. They require external power, but still sell well.
I think Micron / Crucial's desktop SSD can make a dent in that market - as we already have 30TB U.3 SSDs (it is pricey, but there may be users who need that type of 'portable' performance).
Why the heck would you put a gen4 M.2 drive under a *plastic* cover, to trap the heat? If that's just for the demo model, they should have a sticker or something saying: real product will have a heatsink here.
Many of the USB M.2 enclosures you can find on Amazon have a slide-in design, which makes it impossible to place a thermal pad between the SSD and the metal case.
Not sure if that's the underside or is demo to show the internal (with the production having the silver top in the first pic). I doubt there's a heatsink there and doesn't look like there's space for one either, unless its different from what's shown under the plastic cover (maybe that top cover has a heatpad and serves as the heatsink?). Any which way, not sure why the case is so large as it seems unnecessary.
We've got 4 lanes of PCIe, so the host would need a simple driver to sequence the addressing of drives on the bus. I could write a specification for the protocol, s'il vous plait.
We are talking about use of Direct Attached Storage devises. Come on, use your head, this is Micron! We have a never-ending quest for faster access to stored data, and, of course, the faster the CPU can fetch instructions from the system drive, the faster all programs will run. You can execute Linux distros from a USB drive, and the CPU will love fetching instructions from your Kwai Chang Caine 8 DAS.
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Hulk - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
For me having an external power supply for a USB device is a non starter. The whole beauty of USB is it's portability. Also I care not about faster sequential speeds once they reach about 1 or 2GB/sec, honestly I don't move huge files around often enough for that metric to matter. The random access numbers are more important and these new gen drives don't do any better than last gen. Seem like there is always a near useless metric for manufacturers to use to push new products on us that won't really offer performance benefits in real world usage. For SSD's it's sequential data rates when what they really need to focus on is random rates. For CPU's it's MT performance, when they really need to focus on ST performance, etc...deil - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
I agree, it will definitely not replace a pendrive. A tiny thing you can put anywhere, and forget it to exist for months. Still this can be very useful as mac backup machine for example. Fast storage means it will not take 2hours to backup stuff regularly, and it's not taking a lot of space.it likely can exist as a filler between people who need a regular NAS, and those who use random usb's as backup devices.
FWhitTrampoline - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
Is this not powered over the USB Type-C power delivery part of the connector/port that is USB4(Includes the TB3) protocol standard. So maybe that's powered via the Type-C port(?).And see for the article here and this:
"The power delivery component of the Type-C specification is also implemented within the controller."
ganeshts - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
The 'PD' suffix of the ASMedia controller is for these two aspects:The device can advertise itself to a host PC as requiring 5V fixed, without the need for other chips. Also, initial Type-C designs had to use a separate board component to detect Type-C cable orientation. That is not required with this ASMedia controller.
The desktop SSD requires the ability to supply power back to the host. So, that does involve extra circuitry on the board.
ganeshts - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
Yes, YMMV.External HDDs (3.5") connecting over USB (regular DAS) are still quite popular, as both Seagate and WD are continuing to update those models with the top-capacity 20TB / 22TB drives. They require external power, but still sell well.
I think Micron / Crucial's desktop SSD can make a dent in that market - as we already have 30TB U.3 SSDs (it is pricey, but there may be users who need that type of 'portable' performance).
DanaGoyette - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
Why the heck would you put a gen4 M.2 drive under a *plastic* cover, to trap the heat? If that's just for the demo model, they should have a sticker or something saying: real product will have a heatsink here.Many of the USB M.2 enclosures you can find on Amazon have a slide-in design, which makes it impossible to place a thermal pad between the SSD and the metal case.
darkswordsman17 - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
Not sure if that's the underside or is demo to show the internal (with the production having the silver top in the first pic). I doubt there's a heatsink there and doesn't look like there's space for one either, unless its different from what's shown under the plastic cover (maybe that top cover has a heatpad and serves as the heatsink?). Any which way, not sure why the case is so large as it seems unnecessary.Dug - Thursday, January 11, 2024 - link
A single drive in an enclosure. What will they think up next?How about adding 4-8 drives in a small enclosure for once.
Chris.Brisson - Friday, January 12, 2024 - link
We've got 4 lanes of PCIe, so the host would need a simple driver to sequence the addressing of drives on the bus. I could write a specification for the protocol, s'il vous plait.darkx132 - Friday, January 12, 2024 - link
USB 3.0 today is adequate for 90% of use cases. Even USB 2.0 is still relevant for peripherals.Chris.Brisson - Friday, January 12, 2024 - link
We are talking about use of Direct Attached Storage devises. Come on, use your head, this is Micron! We have a never-ending quest for faster access to stored data, and, of course, the faster the CPU can fetch instructions from the system drive, the faster all programs will run. You can execute Linux distros from a USB drive, and the CPU will love fetching instructions from your Kwai Chang Caine 8 DAS.Adramtech - Friday, January 12, 2024 - link
How about a story on a real product from CES, LPCAMM2?