Toshiba has just announced its XG6 series — the first SSDs to use the company’s 96-layer 3D flash tech in their design.
Toshiba’s XG6 SSDs boast 3,180 MB/s read and 3,000 MB/s write speeds
The new XG6 series of NVM Express SSDs use BiCS 3D flash memory with 3-bits-per-cell which powers the drives’ maximum 3,180 MB/s read and 3,000 MB/s write speeds. The new technology also offers a 360,000 random write IOPS — input/output operations per second. And even after all this, the XG6 is powered with just 4.7 watts.
This SSD will be coming in three capacities: 256GB, 512GB and 1024GB. Each one will be on a single-sided M.2 2280-S2 form factor. Self-encrypting drive models that support TCG Opal Version 2.01 will also be offered. Toshiba says this will make the XG6 “highly suited to a wide range of applications” like ultra-mobile PCs that prioritize performance and server-boot storage in data centers and enterprise environments.
The company a week ago also revealed the first few examples of next-gen 4-bits-per-cell 96-layer flash chips. It could be a while however until we can actually get this tech in a buyable product. Toshiba VP Jeremy Werner said that SSDs “pose the most formidable flash design challenge” due to their complex controller designs.
Pricing and Availability
The XG6’s price hasn’t been announced yet, but Toshiba says it’s looking to target “client PC, high-performance mobile, embedded, and gaming segments,” as well as data centers. With these targets in mind, you can expect the price to be appropriate for a top-of-the-line gadget.
Samples are shipping in limited quantities, though Toshiba says it’ll gradually increase shipments around the fourth quarter of this year.
