Silicon Power Launches Industrial-Grade microSD Express Card with SSD-Level Performance

[Nomad76]

Silicon Power is thrilled to announce the launch of its first microSD Express memory card, the SET320. Available in 256 GB capacity with an operating temperature of -25°C to 70°C, this industrial-grade solution is designed to meet the growing demands of AI-driven applications. Harnessing the SD Express interface, this advanced memory card delivers exceptional performance in a familiar form factor, enabling cutting-edge AI systems and data centers to operate at their maximum potential.

SSD Performance in microSD Card Size
The SET320 leverages PCIe Gen 3x1 and NVMe interfaces to achieve incredible read speeds of up to 820 MB/s - 1.4 times faster than SATA SSDs (up to 560 MB/s) and more than eight times faster than traditional UHS-I microSD cards (up to 100 MB/s). It also boasts write speeds of up to 640 MB/s to handle data-intensive calculations with ease. These impressive figures make the SET320 comparable to SSDs in terms of performance, all within the compact and versatile form factor of a microSD card, allowing users to experience SSD-like speed and efficiency in devices that require a smaller footprint.





Versatile Applications for Modern Needs
From applications that require quick access to large amounts of data to seamless operation in critical AI-driven environments, the SET320 is designed to excel. A very low power consumption of 1.5 mW promotes uninterrupted performance and efficiency. It's also backward-compatible with devices that support previous-generation microSDXC UHS-I cards, ensuring that users can easily upgrade their existing hardware without sacrificing functionality. Additionally, the SET320 fits into the same form factor as traditional microSD cards, providing a straightforward transition to the latest in storage technology.

The SET320 microSD Express memory card demonstrates Silicon Power's commitment to implementing cutting-edge technologies that drive innovation in the industry. As AI applications continue to evolve and demand greater computational efficiency, the need for faster, more reliable storage solutions will become increasingly critical. The SET320 is a breakthrough solution to meet these inevitable demands, paving the way for the next generation of intelligent systems.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[wNotyarD]

Wouldn't such speeds on a device of this size cause quite the heat?

 

[Yashyyyk]

Still backwards compatible with UHS 2 or no?

 

[LabRat 891]

Wouldn't such speeds on a device of this size cause quite the heat?

Assuming so.
I had to put NVME graphene-copper heatspreader on my Steam Deck's mSD card.

It is 'industrial' thermal rated, at least.
I wonder if the injection molding is graphene-metallic composite, etc?

Still backwards compatible with UHS 2 or no?

SDexpress/mSDexpress is backwards compatible, yes.

• While SD Express cards are backward compatible with traditional SD devices, maximum speeds are only achieved when both card and device support SD Express.

SD Express Cards & microSD Express Cards Explained

SD Express cards are much faster than regular SD cards. But there's no point buying one for your camera.

havecamerawilltravel.com

 

[Tomorrow]

I wonder if this is used on a UHS-I device would it still achieve higher random r/w speeds than UHS-I cards?
I get that 800MB/s+ is only for SD Express devices but that's sequential. UHS-I cards get nowhere near 100MB/s random r/w.

 

[watzupken]

I don't see the price mentioned, but I think this will cost a bomb. I would prefer devices to add a 2230 NVME SSD expansion instead since it is more durable and cost efficient.

 

[JWNoctis]

I don't see the price mentioned, but I think this will cost a bomb. I would prefer devices to add a 2230 NVME SSD expansion instead since it is more durable and cost efficient.

Considering how a CFExpress card often costs many times the price of a faster NVMe SSD of the same capacity if not dimension, you are probably right. This one's gonna cost an arm, a leg, and a kidney.

Wonder what the write caching and endurance numbers look like - Interestingly, they chose this angle to marketing, instead of something previously usual like raw video recording. Is that write rate not well-sustained?

 

[Wirko]

Wonder what the write caching and endurance numbers look like - Interestingly, they chose this angle to marketing, instead of something previously usual like raw video recording. Is that write rate not well-sustained?

It doesn't have an "A" (application performance) rating such as A1 or A2 - the latter would guarantee 4000 IOPS for random reads. As for write speed and endurance, maybe this card is specialised for AI inference applications, without a lot of writing. The information is very scarce, and given that this is Silicon Power, they won't tell much even when this card gets its own product page.

Assuming so.
I had to put NVME graphene-copper heatspreader on my Steam Deck's mSD card.

It is 'industrial' thermal rated, at least.
I wonder if the injection molding is graphene-metallic composite, etc?

This, plus a slot design that would put the card in physical contact with a larger heatsink when inserted, would actually be a good solution (for up to a couple watts).

 

[persondb]

Still backwards compatible with UHS 2 or no?

I believe SDExpress is only backwards compatible with UHS I