Samsung Elec rolls out mass-market DRAM-less SSD

[Photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co.]

Samsung Electronics Co. has added its first DRAM-less consumer drive – 980 Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) solid state drive (SSD)—to its lineup, coming up with the highest performance DRAM-less SSDs at mass price.

The South Korean memory chip giant will roll out its first DRAM-less 980 NVMe SSD in mass-market price but in the equal quality of high-end 980 Pro SSD that was launched last year for contract clients.

Generally, SSDs without DRAM have slower speeds compared to ones with DRAM embedded as they lack the short-term memory for fast access to data.

To address the issue, Samsung applied the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which links the drive directly to the DRAM on PC system to overcome performance drawbacks and bring down the price at the same time, the company explained.

When combined with the company’s latest sixth-generation V-NAND and optimized controller and firmware, the technology enables six times faster performance than SATA SSDs, making it ideal memory for everyday PC users, gamers and content creators, it added.

Consumers also don’t have to worry about overheating thanks to the upgraded Intelligent TurboWrite technology, which also improves power efficiency by up to 56 percent and reduces carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. Samsung also added Full Power Mode to its software, allowing users working with extremely large files or play graphics-heavy games to enjoy uninterrupted work and play without having to worry about their PCs slowing.

With the launch of the new DRAM-less SSD, Samsung aims to cement leadership in consumer SSD market, in which it is being closely chased by its rival Western Digital. Its share in the consumer SSD market dropped to 31.9 percent in the third quarter of 2020 from 36.7 percent in the first quarter of 2019. Its lead slipped further to 28.8 percent, followed by Western Digital’s 25.4 percent.

In corporate SSD market, it dominates more than a 40 percent share.

The Samsung 980 SSD will be available in more than 40 countries, including the U.S., South Korea, Germany and China.

On Thursday, Samsung Electronics shares ended 1.36 percent higher at 82,000 won.

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