Samsung Electronics Introduces Industry-Leading PM9E1 PCIe 5.0 SSD

Samsung Electronics, a global leader in cutting-edge memory technology, has officially commenced mass production of the PM9E1, a PCIe 5.0 SSD boasting the highest performance and largest capacity in the industry. Utilizing a 5-nanometer (nm) controller and eighth-generation V-NAND (V8) technology developed in-house, the PM9E1 promises exceptional performance and improved power efficiency, making it an ideal choice for on-device AI PCs. Key features such as performance, storage capacity, power efficiency, and security have all been enhanced compared to its predecessor, the PM9A1a.

"Our PM9E1, equipped with a 5 nm controller, offers unparalleled power efficiency and top-notch performance that has been validated by our key partners," stated YongCheol Bae, Executive Vice President of Memory Product Planning at Samsung Electronics. "In the rapidly evolving on-device AI landscape, Samsung's PM9E1 will serve as a strong foundation for global customers to strategically plan their AI initiatives." With an eight-channel PCIe 5.0 interface, the sequential read and write speeds of the new SSD have more than doubled compared to the previous generation, reaching speeds of up to 14.5 gigabytes-per-second (GB/s) and 13 GB/s, respectively. This enhanced performance enables quicker data transfers, even with data-intensive AI applications, allowing a 14 GB large language model (LLM) to be transferred from the SSD to DRAM in under a second.

The PM9E1 offers various storage options, including 512 GB, 1 terabyte (TB), 2 TB, and an industry-leading 4 TB capacity. The 4 TB option is particularly suitable for PC users requiring high-capacity storage for large files like AI-generated content, data-heavy programs, high-resolution videos, and demanding tasks such as gaming.

Moreover, the significantly improved power efficiency, exceeding 50%, results in longer battery life, making it ideal for on-device AI applications.

To enhance security, Samsung has implemented Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) v1.2 in the PM9E1. The SPDM specification incorporates technologies such as 'Secure Channel,' 'Device Authentication,' and 'Firmware Tampering Attestation' to prevent supply chain attacks involving forgery or manipulation of stored data during production or distribution.

With the launch of the PM9E1, Samsung aims to expand its advanced SSD offerings to global PC manufacturers and plans to introduce PCIe 5.0-based consumer products in the future to strengthen its position in the on-device AI market.