Solidigm Accelerates HDD Replacement in Data Centers with Lower-Priced SSDs

Solidigm Launches New QLC SSD Products
Expanding QLC Lineup More Affordable Than TLC
"QLC Offers Superior Cost Efficiency... Will Replace HDD"

Solidigm, a subsidiary of SK Hynix specializing in solid-state drives (SSD), has introduced a new data center SSD optimized for performance, capacity, and cost. With this new product that lowers the price barrier, the company aims to replace hard disk drives (HDD) in the market and boost SSD demand.

On the 18th, Solidigm held a press conference at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas to announce the launch background and business plans for the data center SSD 'D5-P5430.'

SSD is a device that stores information using flash memory. It is made by combining NAND flash and controllers. It serves as a replacement for hard disk drives (HDD), which store information using mechanical parts (rotating disks). Compared to HDDs, SSDs generate less heat and noise and offer faster data processing speeds.

The D5-P5430 is a 4th generation quad-level cell (QLC) SSD. SSDs are categorized by cell structure into types such as QLC and triple-level cell (TLC); QLC offers larger capacity and lower price than TLC but has a shorter product lifespan and lower performance.

Solidigm has enhanced the advantages of QLC and compensated for its drawbacks to launch the D5-P5430. This is intended to replace entry-level TLC SSDs. Although many want to transition from HDD to SSD, the price barrier of TLC products, which are mainly used in the market, leads to continued HDD usage. The company explained that they introduced a cost-effective QLC product to address this.

Solidigm stated that compared to major entry-level TLC SSD products available in the market, the D5-P5430 offers equal or higher read performance, as well as superior write performance and durability. With higher storage density and larger capacity, it also reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) for data centers compared to using TLC products.

Solidigm will begin mass production of the D5-P5430 in various form factors and capacities next month. By the end of the year, it will release a large-capacity product of around 30 terabytes (TB). The company plans to introduce a diverse range of QLC products to meet the growing market demand. In fact, the proportion of QLC shipped for data center use has increased tenfold from 2018 to 2022.

Bill Panos, Product Marketing Manager at Solidigm, said, "QLC is economically superior compared to TLC," adding, "In the future, QLC will replace HDDs in hybrid arrays composed of HDDs." He also noted, "90% of global data center storage is still HDD-based," and added, "Since this is just the beginning, there will be significant advancements going forward."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.