Thanks to recent developments in the AI field, and following in the wake of the world's recovery from COVID-19, the transition of factories to partial or full automation proceeds with unstoppable momentum. And the best place to learn about the latest technologies that aim to make this transition as painless as possible is at Automate 2024. This is North America's largest robotics and automation event, and it will be held in Chicago, Illinois from May 6 to 9.

Automate attracts professionals from around the world, and Apacer is no exception. Apacer team will be on hand to discuss the latest technological developments created by our experienced R&D team. Many of these developments were specifically created to reduce the pain points commonly experienced by fully automated facilities. Take CoreSnapshot, for example. This backup and recovery technology can restore a crashed system to full operation in just a few seconds, reducing downtime and associated maintenance costs. Apacer recently updated CoreSnapshot, creating CoreRescue ASR and CoreRescue USR. The name of CoreRescue ASR refers to Auto Self Recovery. This technology will harness AI to learn the system booting process and analyze how long a boot should take. If this average boot time is significantly longer than usual, the system will trigger the self-recovery process and revert to an earlier, uncorrupted version of the drive's content. CoreRescue USR offers similar functionality, except the self-recovery process is triggered by connecting a small USB stick drive.

The PICO-ITX, a compact embedded single-board computer (SBC) based on a 100 mm x 72 mm form factor, serves as a more space-efficient alternative motherboard, ensuring a broad range of interfaces on a more readily deployable board.

GIGAIPC's PICO-G350A (Yocto OS) / PICO-G350B (Android OS) are the first Pico-ITX boards to feature an ARM SoC, powered by MediaTek MT8365 Arm Quad-Core Cortex -A53, to provide incredible energy efficiency and outstanding low power consumption that demonstrates impressive performance. Featuring a ruggedized design, it operates reliably across a wide temperature range from 0 to 60°C. Designed with flexibility and rich on-board interfaces, including USB 2.0 (hot and USB OTG), Micro SD expansion slots, and M.2 2230 E-Key for AW-CB451NF-D wifi module support, this solution is tailored to accommodate various application scenarios, such as smart retail, self-service terminals, industrial automation, intelligent medical health, and digital media.

Radxa is a Chinese manufacturer of various Arm based devices and something of a minor competitor to the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The company has just launched its latest product which is called the ROCK 5 ITX. As the name implies, it's a Mini-ITX form factor motherboard, which in itself is rather unusual for Arm based hardware to start with. However, Radxa has designed the ROCK 5 ITX to be a NAS motherboard and this is the first time we've come across such a product, as most Arm based boards are either intended for hobby projects, software development or routers. This makes the ROCK 5 ITX quite unique, at least based on its form factor, as it'll be compatible with standard Mini-ITX chassis.

The SoC on the board is a Rockchip RK3588 which sports four Cortex-A76 cores at up to 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. This is not exactly cutting edge, but should be plenty fast enough for a SATA drive based NAS. The board offers four SATA 6 Gbps connectors via an ASMedia ASM1164 controller, each with an individual power connector next to it. However, Radxa seems to have chosen to use fan-header type power connectors, which means it'll be hard to get replacement power cables. The board also has a PCIe 3.0 x2 M.2 slot for an NVMe drive. The OS boots from eMMC and Radxa supports its own Roobi OS which is Debian Linux based.

Kanguru announces their exceptional new line of hardware-based, internal self-encrypting drives designed to help organizations secure and protect their data. Under the Kanguru Defender Brand name customers know and trust, Kanguru is entering the internal hardware market with these new Defender internal hardware encrypted solid state drives. The self-encrypting SEDs are packed with security features to help organizations secure data on laptops and tablets, creating a secure data environment. The Defender SED's are also compliant with the Trusted Computing Group's Opal standard for secure drive architecture. In addition, Kanguru has partnered with Cigent, known for their innovative data security, device sanitation and ransomware prevention, to integrate additional cutting-edge endpoint protection into the suite of Kanguru Defender SED's.

Kanguru's military grade AES 256-bit hardware encryption is enforced on the entire drive using stand-alone, independent hardware-based encryption security, not just specific files or folders. These internal encrypted drives automatically lock themselves when powered off, making all data stored within, (including the Operating System) completely inaccessible.

Renowned global memory brand Team Group Inc. is committed to providing consumers with diverse and optimal storage solutions. Today, it proudly unveils the Team Group MP44Q M.2 PCIe 4.0 Solid State Drive, featuring the latest 3D QLC NAND technology, combining cutting-edge technology with the trend of demanding high storage capacity to meet daily system and file storage needs.

Team Group MP44Q M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD utilizes the latest 3D QLC NAND, offering capacities of up to 4 TB. With the PCIe Gen 4 x4 interface and SLC Caching technology, it achieves maximum sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and 6,500 MB/s, respectively. The MP44Q SSD operates with low power consumption, catering to all document processing and storage applications, significantly enhancing work efficiency. Paired with Team Group's exclusively patented graphene heat dissipation sticker, whose thickness is less than 1 mm, eliminating the potential for mechanical interference in any assembly, coupled with the native heat sink of the motherboard, such an arrangement effectively addresses the heat generated by high performance, extending the SSD's lifespan.

KLEVV today announced the CRAS C925 line of mid-range M.2 NVMe SSDs. Built in the M.2-2280 form-factor, these drives take advantage of the PCI-Express 4.0 x4 host interface, to provide sequential transfer speeds of up to 7400 MB/s reads, and up to 6500 MB/s sequential writes, depending on the model. There are three of these based on capacity—500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. All three offer up to 7400 MB/s sequential reads, while the maximum write speeds are up to 6200 MB/s for the 500 GB model, up to 6300 MB/s for the 1 TB model, and up to 6500 MB/s for the 2 TB model. Both the 500 GB and 1 TB models offer up to 670,000 IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 980,000 IOPS random writes; while the 2 TB model does up to 700,000 IOPS random reads, with up to 1 million IOPS random writes.

The KLEVV CRAS C925 combines a MaxioTech MAP1602 DRAMless controller with an unspecified brand of 3D TLC NAND flash memory. The drive features a single-sided design, in that even the top 2 TB model has all its components on one side of the PCB. You can use the included aluminium heat-spreader that reduces temperatures by 12%, or the heatsink your motherboard includes. KLEVV rates the write endurance of these drives at 600 TBW for the 500 GB model, 1,200 TBW for the 1 TB model, and 2,400 TBW for the 2 TB model. The company is backing the drives with a 5-year warranty. The company didn't reveal pricing, but mentioned that the drives will be available from May 2024.

ASRock proudly announces its new Z790I Lightning WiFi and B760I Lightning WiFi Mini-ITX motherboards. Equipped with a robust 14+1+1 power phase design and an optimized memory layout, these motherboards fully unleash the powerful performance of Intel Core 14th Gen K-series processors. Offering top-tier memory overclocking capabilities for supporting DDR5 8600+ memory modules, they present an excellent choice for gamers and mini-PC enthusiasts seeking the ultimate overclocking performance. The Z790I Lightning WiFi has achieved four overclocking world records on HWBOT.org with the Intel Core i9-14900KS processor. Additionally, the B760I Lightning WiFi received the "Best Motherboard" award at CES 2024 from Tom's Hardware, emphasizing its exceptional design and overclocking capabilities.

ASRock Z790I Lightning WiFi and B760I Lightning WiFi motherboards feature a 14+1+1 Phase 110 A SPS Dr.MOS VRM, outperforming competing ITX offerings. ASRock has custom-designed a composite cooling solution for these boards, including enlarged aluminium heatsinks, heat-pipe, and a MOS fan, delivering robust cooling performance to enhance overclocking capabilities. This superior cooling ensures the processors perform at their peak.

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, proudly presents the CVN B650M GAMING FROZEN motherboard. This motherboard is our first AMD AM5 motherboard that supports the AMD Ryzen 7000 Series and the latest AMD Ryzen 8000 Series processors that feature the groundbreaking AMD Ryzen AI technology as well as support for AVX-512.

The CVN B650M GAMING FROZEN supports the latest AMD Ryzen 8000G Series APUs with AMD Ryzen AI technology. It also supports the AMD Ryzen 7000 and AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D Series processors with 3D V-Cache Technology, as well as support for the future AM5 processors. AMD Ryzen AI brings the power of personal computing closer to you on an AI PC, unlocking a whole new level of efficiencies for work, collaboration, and innovation so that you can stay connected better with the world around you.

A Chinese Topton company has brought new life to the AMD Vega graphics architecture by integrating it into a Network Attached Storage (NAS) motherboard. The Topton N9 NAS motherboard features the Intel Core i7-8705G processor, a unique chip that combines Intel CPU cores with AMD's RX Vega M GL graphics. The Intel Core i7-8705G, initially released in 2018, is an unusual choice for a NAS system. This 14 nm processor features four cores, eight threads, and a boost clock of up to 4.1 GHz. What sets it apart is the integrated AMD RX Vega M GL GPU with 20 Compute Units and 4 GB of HBM2 memory.

The Topton N9 NAS motherboard is designed for the 17×17 cm ITX form factor and offers a range of features like maximum support for 64 GB of DDR4 RAM, M.2 NVMe/SATA and SATA 3.0, eight Intel i226-V controllers for 2.5 Gbit networking, USB 3.0, USB Type-C, and HDMI 2.0 connectivity. While the Intel Core i7-8705G may not be the most obvious choice for a NAS system, the Topton N9 motherboard demonstrates how this unique processor can be repurposed to provide affordable computing power. The integrated AMD RX Vega graphics offer capabilities beyond typical NAS requirements, making this motherboard suitable for various applications, such as home firewalls and routers. The collaboration between Intel and AMD in creating the Kaby Lake-G processors was a rare occurrence in the industry. The Topton N9 starts at $288.56 without a fan/cooler, and adding another $20 bumps the price to $308.46.

Cervoz brings its new storage solution to industrial applications with the launch of its new T425 Series M.2 NVMe SSDs-M.2 2230 (B+M) and M.2 2242 (B+M). Available in the compact 2230 and 2242 form factors, these PCIe Gen3x2 SSDs pack impressive performance into small footprints. Engineered for reliability and efficiency, the T425 Series provides industrial-grade solutions for embedded systems and space-constrained applications.

Space-Saving Form Factors for Seamless Integration
The tiny size of the T425 Series SSDs enables easy integration into small, fanless devices where internal space is limited. From in-vehicle systems and handheld scanners to medical equipment and industrial PCs, these SSDs allow seamless upgrades without compromising capacity or performance.

Thermaltake USA, the leading PC Case, Cooling, Power, and memory solutions, proudly announces the launch of twelve innovative models in the LCGS (Liquid Cooled Gaming System) Reactor series, available exclusively at Best Buy. This launch marks a significant milestone for Thermaltake, introducing the next generation of gaming PCs, meticulously designed with the newly unveiled The Tower 300 Micro Tower Chassis. These gaming powerhouses are equipped with the latest high-performance components, including the cutting-edge Intel Core 14th Gen i9/i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Super Series/4090 graphics cards, 32 GB of DDR5 5600 MT/s memory, and expansive 2 TB NVMe M.2 SSD storage.

Each system in the LCGS Reactor series boasts a 360 mm radiator liquid cooling solution, ensuring exceptional cooling performance and stability during intense gaming sessions. The addition of vibrant color options such as Snow, Black, Hydrangea Blue, and Turquoise adds a personalized touch to these systems, catering to gamers' and content creators' diverse tastes and styles. Tailored for the most demanding gamers and creative professionals, these pre-built gaming desktop PCs are assembled and rigorously tested by Thermaltake's skilled engineers in the USA, ensuring unparalleled build quality and reliability.

MAINGEAR, a leading provider of high-performance custom PC systems, and Phison, a global leader in NAND controllers and storage solutions, today unveiled groundbreaking MAINGEAR PRO AI workstations with Phison's aiDAPTIV+ technology. Specifically engineered to democratize Large Language Model (LLM) development and training for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), these ultra-powerful workstations incorporate aiDAPTIV+ technology to deliver supercomputer LLM training capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional AI training servers.

As the demand for large-scale generative AI models continues to surge and their complexity increases, the potential for LLMs also expands. However, this rapid advancement in LLM AI technology has led to a notable boost in hardware requirements, making model training cost-prohibitive and inaccessible for many small to medium businesses.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, unveils the brand new A620MS motherboard, designed for business and casual use. The A620MS motherboard is a versatile solution that seamlessly bridges the gap between professional efficiency and home entertainment. It's designed to meet the needs of office users, home enthusiasts, and system integrators, whether it's enhancing productivity in the workplace, enjoying online movies and gaming at home, or managing complex business processes and client data. The A620MS is a benchmark for reliability and adaptability, catering to diverse computing environments.

Built on the advanced Socket AM5, the A620MS motherboard offers comprehensive support for the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series processors, ensuring compatibility with cutting-edge CPU technology. It harnesses the power of AMD's A620 single-chip architecture to provide a stable and efficient computing base. With support for up to 96 GB of DDR5 memory across two DIMM slots, it offers ample capacity and superior speed for demanding applications, making it a powerhouse for both current and future computing tasks. Furthermore, It supports PCIe 4.0 M.2 (64 Gb/s) for advanced, high-speed storage solutions, ensuring a streamlined and efficient computing experience.

Thermaltake today introduced the MS-1, a fan-heatsink cooler for SSDs in the M.2-2280 form-factor. The cooler consists of an extruded aluminium heatsink with a flattened copper heatpipe running along its length, to more effectively spread heat from the controller across the heatsink. Thermaltake also includes a thermal pad that's meant to be installed between the heatsink and the drive, to compensate for any minor Z-height differences that may exist between the controller, DRAM chip, and the NAND flash chips. There is a second thermal pad for components on the reverse side of the drive's PCB, which makes contact with the "taco shell" backplate of the cooler. This heatsink is ventilated by a tiny fan which turns at speeds of up to 8,000 RPM, pushing 0.44 CFM of airflow at 1.6 mm H₂O static pressure, and a measured noise of 16 dBA. The fan is rated for 60,000 hours by Thermaltake. The cooler measures 74 mm x 23 mm x 17.9 mm, and is designed to minimize interference in the CPU socket area. The company didn't reveal pricing.

The global edge artificial intelligence (AI) market is booming, which has accelerated the urgent demand for reliable, high-performance, and highly flexible edge AI inference devices. Aetina, a leading global edge AI solution provider, announces the release of its cutting-edge fanless versatile expansion edge AI systems - the AIE-PN33/43 series and AIE-PO23/33 series. These innovative systems are powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX and Orin Nano modules, offering outstanding AI computing performance of up to 100 TOPS and 40 TOPS respectively, along with flexible I/O interface options. Designed to seamlessly handle the connectivity and real-time data processing needs of various sensors and devices at the edge, these solutions help empower industries worldwide to efficiently deploy an extensive range of AI applications.

According to Statista's 'Number of IoT connected devices worldwide 2019-2030' report, the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices worldwide is forecasted to exceed 29 billion by 2030. In response to the growing number of IoT devices and the diverse I/O and storage needs of different AI applications, Aetina has unveiled a range of fanless edge AI systems. This lineup includes the AIE-PN33/43-2PSE and AIE-PN33/43-4PSE, boasting 2 or 4 sets of PSE ports respectively; the AIE-PN33/43-6USB and AIE-PO23/33-6USB, each integrating 6 sets of USB ports; and the AIE-PN33/43-3M and AIE-PO23/33-3M, equipped with 3 sets of M.2 M-Key slots. Users can choose the most suitable product model based on their specific AI application requirements, whether it involves addressing wiring challenges in wide-ranging environments like ports or traffic roadside monitoring, fulfilling multi-sensor connectivity needs for smart factory defect detection or automated production lines, or expanding storage capacity for real-time image recognition tasks. These solutions are poised to accelerate the deployment of advanced AI intelligence applications across diverse industries.

Sparkle introduced the PCIe Gen 4 Quad M.2 Riser Card. This single-slot, full-height card is meant to be installed on a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot, which it wires out as four M.2-22110 slots with Gen 4 x4 wiring, and mounting bolt set to M.2-2280 by default. With the drives in place, the card is meant to be covered up by a metal shroud; there's no contact between this shroud and the drives underneath. Cooling comes in the form of two lateral-blower fans that guide airflow under the shroud.

The first (intake) fan is 60 mm in size, while the second one (exhaust, near the tail-end), is 50 mm. Both are controlled by a localized fan-speed control, with three speed settings that can be selected by a 3-way switch on the rear I/O shield. Next to it, are four LEDs that denote power/activity of the individual drives. The card is 28 cm long, and 12 cm tall. What sets Sparkle's card apart from other brands is that the card relies entirely on the PCIe slot for powering itself—unlike some other cards that use a 6-pin connector. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Fibocom, a global leading provider of IoT (Internet of Things) wireless solutions and wireless communication modules, launches a new series of 5G RedCap module integrated with MediaTek's T300 5G modem, which is the world's first 6 nm radio frequency system-on-chip (RFSOC) single die solution for 5G RedCap. By integrating a single-core Arm Cortex-A3 processor in a significantly compact PCB area, the FM330 series are optimal solutions that offer extended coverage, increased network efficiency and device battery life for industry customers.

Compliant with 3GPP R17 standards, the FM330 series supports mainstream 5G frequency bands worldwide and is capable of reaching a maximum bandwidth of 20 MHz, thus ensuring the peak data rate of up to 227 Mbps downlink and 122 Mbps uplink, sufficient to meet the demand for 5G applications with less data throughput while balancing the power efficiency. In hardware design, it adopts the M.2form factor measured at 30x42mm benefiting from the unique RFSOC solution integrated with T300, in addition to the optimized antenna design in 1T2R, which significantly saves the PCB area. Moreover, FM330 series is pin-compatible with Fibocom LTE Cat 6 module FM101, easing the concerns for customers' migration from 4G to 5G. Furthermore, the module provides 64QAM/256QAM (optional) modulation scheme to greatly optimize the cost and size.

Transcend, a premier manufacturer of embedded memory products and storage solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the all-new MTS570P, a Power Loss Protection (PLP) SSD aimed at enhancing storage reliability for embedded systems. Engineered with a compact form factor without compromising on performance, it is an ideal solution for edge servers, IoV systems, network switches, POS machines, and various other types of edge devices.

Power Loss Protection (PLP) stands as a critical feature in modern embedded systems, particularly when used in rugged environments. Its main purpose is to safeguard data integrity during unstable power supply or unexpected power loss/failure, ultimately enhancing overall system reliability and safety by providing a stable and secure storage solution.

PC hardware exhibitionists will pleased to discover that NBROS—a Japanese DIY parts specialist—is about to release display stands for CPUs and M.2 SSDs. News outlets were alerted to new retail listings on Yodobashi.com by an ever trusty internet sleuth: momomo_us. The CPU display stand (NB-CPU-DP07) and M.2 SSD display stand (NB-M2SSD-DP06) models are available to purchase, although the shipping date appears to be February 29—implying that you can only pre-order at this stage in time. The made-in-Japan CPU stand is priced at ¥1850 (~$12.34) including VAT, while the M.2-oriented display piece comes in at ¥2180 (~$14.54)—both offered with free delivery options.

The NBROS NB-CPU-DP07 display stand is formed of black-painted iron plating, with a stated thickness of 1.6 mm—overall dimensions seem to be 65 x 65 x 50 mm, and it weighs roughly 80 grams according to the Yodobashi listing. The display surface dimensions are not documented, but accompanying photos indicate that all sorts of CPU footprints are supported—including EPYC and Xeon profiles. The retail package bundles in a few helpful extras: a suction pad, rubber feet and an instruction manual. The NB-M2SSD-DP06 model is a larger and heftier prospect, with 85 x 100 x 95 mm dimensions and an approximate weight of 250 g. The NBROS 1.6 mm thick metal plate construction is once again employed, but the NB-M2SSD-DP06's accessory pack differs slightly—you get a set of mounting screw instead of a suction pad. The chunkiest and most robust M.2 2280 designs can be fastened onto its display stand.

GIGABYTE today introduced the Gen 4 4000E line of value M.2 NVMe SSDs that take advantage of the PCI-Express Gen 4 host interface, as it says on the tin. These drives form the company's new entry level M.2 NVMe SSD series. The drive comes in 250 GB, 500 GB, and 1 TB capacities, and are really targeted at the crowd that likes to pick up well-priced processor+motherboard+DRAM+SSD bundles in the DIY retail channel. The company didn't specify controller and NAND flash type, but we gather from the specs sheet that it uses a DRAMless controller.

The 1 TB variant (model: G440E1TB) offers sequential speeds of up to 4 GB/s reads, with up to 3.9 GB/s sequential writes. The 500 GB and 250 GB variants offer speeds that don't really need Gen 4 bandwidth. The 500 GB model (G440E500G) does up to 3.6 GB/s sequential reads, with up to 3 GB/s sequential writes. The 250 GB (G440E250G) model offers 3.5 GB/s reads, with up to 1.8 GB/s sequential writes. Endurance is rated at 320 TBW for the 1 TB model, 300 TBW for the 500 GB model, and 150 TBW for the 250 GB model. All three models are backed by 3-year warranties. The company didn't reveal pricing.

CORSAIR, a world leader in enthusiast components for gamers, creators, and PC builders, today announced the launch of the MP600 ELITE series of SSDs. The MP600 ELITE series is a lineup of high-performance PCIe 4.0 SSD available with a range of cooling options to ensure you get the most from your storage whether you're running a desktop PC, a laptop, or a Sony PlayStation 5 console.

Built using high-density 3D TLC NAND and available in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities at launch, with 4 TB models coming in April, the MP600 ELITE series offers impressive sequential read performance of up to 7,000 MB/sec and write performance of up to 6,500 MB/sec. This is bolstered by random read and write speeds of up to 1,000K and 1,200K IOPS respectively, making them ideal for gamers, creators, and hardware enthusiasts seeking impressive performance on a PCIe 4.0 platform. These SSDs are also backwards compatible with PCIe 3.0 systems.

You can check out our review: Corsair MP600 Elite 2 TB Review - The new Phison E27T Tested

Samsung Electronics America today announced the release of the 990 EVO SSD, delivering solid performance for everyday tasks, improved interface compatibility to match the systems consumers own, and better energy efficiency. Designed to enhance everyday computing experiences like gaming, working, and video/photo editing, the NVMe SSD provides an ideal solution for a diverse range of users.

"The 990 EVO delivers a hybrid storage solution that lets you easily bring flexibility and future proof your setup," said Jose Hernandez, Senior Director of Memory Product Marketing at Samsung. "These drives balance performance, power efficiency and reliability, making them a versatile choice for the latest interface, and great for a variety of everyday tasks, like gaming, working, editing and more."

MSI Spatium M580 Liquid Frozr is easily one of the most interesting SSDs we've come across in CES 2024. Picture this—an M.2-2280 SSD that has a self-contained liquid cooler, complete with a fan, radiator, a pump-block, and coolant channels. This is both cute and a little sad. M.2 SSDs were supposed to stay out of sight and be completely cable-free, like DIMMs. This isn't MSI's fault, they have to use the fastest controllers in the market, which are built on older 12 nm foundry nodes. PCI-Express 5.0 x4 is comparable bandwidth to PCI-Express 3.0 x16, and moving this kind of data is bound to generate heat for an SSD controller. Enough banter—the Spatium M580 uses the fastest Phison E26 Max14um controller, with Micron's fastest B58R 232-layer 3D NAND flash chips that deliver 2400 MT/s per flash channel.

The combination of Phison Max14um and B58R results in sequential transfer speeds beyond the 14 GB/s mark, which is where most PCIe Gen 5 x4 drives will end up accounting for the interface+protocol overhead. The theoretical max bandwidth of Gen 5 x4 is 16 GB/s. The drive comes in capacities of up to 4 TB. As for the cooler's design, the bare drive makes contact with a copper cold-plate, which has the block+reservoir, with a tiny pump. This sends coolant through a real aluminium heat-exchanger—this is probably the smallest radiator we've ever seen. The radiator is held up, a supporting structure has a tiny 20 mm lateral-flow fan, which blows air through the radiator. We can't wait to review this thing!

Patriot Memory brought their latest ware to the 2024 International CES that use recent advancements in tech on both the SSD and memory fronts. On the SSD front, this year sees 14 GB/s capable PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSDs thanks to Phison's E26 Max14um controller; and a new crop of USB4 portable SSDs; while the memory front sees DDR5 speeds go far north of DDR5-6000, thanks to on-module CKDs. Patriot showed us examples of each.

First up, there's the Patriot Viper PV573 Gen 5 NVMe SSD. This thing comes in capacities of up to 4 TB, and combines a Phison E26 Max14um controller with Micron's latest B58R TLC NAND flash chips that offer 2400 MT/s per flash channel. The controller also gets some incremental thermal optimizations, which means the cooling solution for the PV573 is a 16.5 mm-tall fan-heatsink. The drive offers up to 14 GB/s sequential reads, with up to 12 GB/s sequential writes. There's also a slightly de-rated version of this drive, the Viper PV553, which has the same combination of controller and NAND flash, but with transfer speeds of up to 12.4 GB/s reads, with up to 11.8 GB/s writes.

Crucial, the client-focused brand of memory giant Micron Technology, showed off a handful new innovations at its booth along the sidelines of the 2024 International CES. First up, is a prototype USB4 portable SSD and prototype desktop SSD. These are proofs of concept, and not actual products. With this, Crucial is testing the waters with USB4 and its delicious 40 Gbps bidirectional bandwidth, which unlocks a new generation of fast removable storage devices. The prototype USB4 portable SSD comes in a tiny chassis about the size of a burner phone. It is a PCB with an M.2-2280 slot with PCIe Gen 4 x4 wiring, connected to an ASMedia ASM2464PD USB4 bridge chip. An OEM Micron Gen 4 SSD with 232-layer 3D TLC NAND flash and LPDDR4 DRAM cache, is installed on this drive. The CDM reading for this drive is 3821 MB/s sequential reads, with 885 MB/s sequential writes.

Next up, is a larger desktop SSD prototype (which again, isn't an actual product but a proof of concept). Its metal chassis is about the size of a 3.5-inch HDD. Inside is at least one M.2-2280 Gen 4 slot (there are probably more); with a preinstalled drive. An ASMedia ASM2464PD handles things here, too. The performance is mostly similar, at 3792 MB/s sequential reads, but with significantly increase 3803 MB/s sequential writes. This may seem unspectacular because Thunderbolt 4 has been delivering 40 Gbps for many years now, and we've had TB4-based external SSDs; but USB4 somewhat democratizes this kind of bandwidth.