Samsung Introduces 8TB NVME SSD with ‘NF1’ Form Factor for Data Centers

Samsung announces an 8TB NVME SSD based on the Next-generation Small Form Factor. That format may be called NF1 and must follow the m2 form factor. With the SSD, Samsung is targeting data centers where speed and a high data density are desirable.

According to Samsung, 72 of the 8TB SSDs can be combined in one 2U server, for a storage capacity of 576TB. The 8TB NVMe NF1 SSD, as Samsung calls the product, is intended for the data-intensive applications in the server market.

The SSD has dimensions of 11×3.05cm and is therefore slightly wider than m2 SSDs, which are a maximum of 11×2.2cm. The larger dimensions double the storage capacity, according to Samsung. Two rows of memory chips are placed on both sides of the PCB. With m2 SSDs, only one row fits per side.

According to Samsung, standards organization Jedec is expected to adopt the ngsff format in October as the successor to the m2 form factor. Samsung itself speaks about the NF1 format, but it is not yet clear what the official name of the new form factor will be.

The 8TB SSD contains 16 nand chips with a capacity of 512GB each. Each chip, in turn, consists of 16 layers of 256-gigabit TLC nand. Samsung also plans to release a 512Gb nand version later this year, which would yield an SSD of the same size with a storage capacity of 16TB.

Using a new controller with support for the nvme 1.3 protocol results in a sequential read speed of 3100MB/s and a write speed of 2000MB/s, according to Samsung. Random reads go at 500,000iops and for writes it’s 50,000iops. The 8TB SSD is also equipped with 12GB lpddr4-dram.

Samsung already showed a prototype of the ngsff SSD last year. Intel showed its ruler form factor for server SSDs during the same period. Samsung has not disclosed what the new 8TB NVME SSD will cost.