Toshiba Memory Corp Launches RD500 & RC500 Gaming-grade M.2 NVMe SSDs

[btarunr]

Toshiba Memory Europe GmbH today announced the launch of two new series of NVMe PCIe 3.0 Gen3x4 M.2 solid state drives (SSDs), the RD500 and RC500 Series. Both product families feature the company's own state-of-the-art 96-layer TLC (triple-level cell) BiCS FLASH 3D memory. Toshiba Memory's new SSDs are high-performance solutions for today's mainstream gamers, DIY system builders and upgrade solution seekers. A next-generation PCIe interface enables the RD500 and RC500 Series to provide a more responsive PC experience with shorter storage latency than that of SATA SSDs.

Suitable for PC gaming enthusiasts, the RD500 Series offers top-of-class performance thanks to a newly designed 8-channel controller that brings out the full potential of BiCS FLASH. The RD500 Series achieves sequential read and write speed up to 3,400 MB/s and 3,200 MB/s respectively and delivers random read and write performance up to 685,000 IOPS and 625,000 IOPS. The RD500 Series is available in capacities up to 2,000 gigabytes (GB) / 2 terabytes (TB).



Update Aug 2nd: We talked to Toshiba USA, and they confirmed to us that these drives are intended for the European and Asian markets. Toshiba US will continue to focus on Enterprise and Data Center products (B2B).



Built from the ground up to deliver faster-than-SATA performance, the RC500 Series uses a 4-channel controller that is ideal for users requiring faster solutions for mainstream PCs. Available in capacities up to 1,000 GB / 1 TB in a single-sided module, the RC500 Series realizes top-class random performance.

"With the introduction of the new NVMe/PCIe SSDs, RD500 and RC500 Series, we have created a dedicated range for the Gaming enthusiast and mainstream gamer. This will allow them to enhance speed and performance of their systems for an all-round better gaming experience," comments Paul Rowan, Vice President at Toshiba Memory Europe GmbH.

The new SSD series will be available in the fourth calendar quarter of this year.

Key features of the RD500 and RC500 include:

• 96-layer TLC BiCS FLASH
• PCIe 3.0 Gen3 x4
• NVMe 1.3c interface specifications supported
• Available in a compact M.2 2280 (22x80mm) form factor for compatibility with desktop and notebook PCs
• SLC cache

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[btarunr]

Thank God it's still called Toshiba and not hypoxia.

 

[Aerpoweron]

I don't get what makes these SSDs gaming grade.

They use NVME so they are faster than SATA based SSDs.

 

[TesterAnon]

Really? because there is barely any difference in SATA and NVMe SSDs when it comes to gaming.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Thank God it's still called Toshiba and not hypoxia.

Reading that name you have kinda Darth Vader look at you... neck tightening look....

 

[gxss]

Why rc500=3 years,sn500=5 years?Maybe cheaper.Yes.

 

[Patriot]

Releasing pcie 3 drives seems.... late

 

[ObiFrost]

Releasing pcie 3 drives seems.... late

Competition is always welcoming, even when it doesn't provide much of a selection to the table when searching for serious drives for workstation use than casual.

Hmm, 3 years warranty, advertised similarly spec'ed speeds as seen on other QLC competitors and consisting of 96 layer TLC? We'll see, we'll see how this rolls out...

 

[bonehead123]

Hummm..... lets see now:

Speed = about the same as most other drives in this tier...nuthin new or exciting here = fail
looks = about the same as most other drives = fail
nex-gen/ "all around better gaming experience" = where/what/how ? = fail
warranty = about the same as most other drives in this tier...nuthin new or exciting here = fail

Overall rating IMHO: y.A.w.N.............. back to nappy time now kiddies

 

[Zubasa]

I don't get what makes these SSDs gaming grade.

Gamer do not care about durability / stability / reliability / throughput.
So I would assume this just mean cheap.

 

[Tsukiyomi91]

if this performs a little underwhelming over Samsung & other drive, the use of the "gaming" or "gamer" moniker won't even fly.

 

[B-Real]

Really? because there is barely any difference in SATA and NVMe SSDs when it comes to gaming.

That barely is more like 0.

 

[TesterAnon]

That barely is more like 0.

I want to say there are 0 but i have noticed differences in VRChat, then again that "game" is a total mess when it comes to efficiency.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Update Aug 2nd: We talked to Toshiba USA, and they confirmed to us that these drives are intended for the European and Asian markets. Toshiba US will continue to focus on Enterprise and Data Center products (B2B).

So Toshiba? You're saying you don't want to make money? Just asking..

 

[ssdpro]

[sarcasm]Wow look girls game too; cool. The part that locks me in is the little drawing of the controller/gamepad in the upper right corner. Toshiba is so hip and on trend.[/sarcasm]