Gigabyte is stepping up its PCIe 4.0 SSDs and is presenting the new generation with a Phison E18 controller and up to 7,000 MB / s. In keeping with the speed, the name is Aorus Gen4 7000s, the predecessor offers a maximum of 5,000 MB / s. Equipped with a relatively flat cooler, a variant with a high heat pipe construction is also planned.
Phison E18 and faster NAND for more performance
While the first generation only scratches the possibilities of PCIe 4.0 x4 with a gross data rate of just under 8 GB / s, the Aorus Gen4 7000s is close to the practical limit. This is made possible by the more powerful Phison E18 controller and the use of faster memory. Gigabyte speaks of 3D-TLC-NAND with 1,200 MT / s, while the predecessor uses the same type of memory with only 800 MT / s. Both are referred to as 96-layer Flash. The combination of 96 layers and 1,200 MT / s as well as an image with recognizable memory modules indicate a change to Micron’s TLC flash.
Aorus Gen4 7000s SSD uses faster storage (Image: Gigabyte) Aorus Gen4 7000s SSD with Micron 96 Layer 3D TLC (Image: Gigabyte)
| Aorus Gen4 7000s (new) | Aorus Gen4 SSD | |
| Form factor | M.2 2280 | |
| interface | PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe | |
| Controller | Phison E18 | Phison E16 |
| NAND flash | 3D TLC 96 Layer 1,200 MT / s | 3D TLC 96 Layer 800 MT / s |
| Storage capacity | 1 TB, 2 TB | 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
| Seq. Read (max.) | 7,000 MB / s | 5,000 MB / s |
| Seq. Write (max.) | 5,500 – 6,850 MB / s | 2,500 – 4,400 MB / s |
| 4K random read (max.) | 350K / 650K IOPS | 400K / 750K IOPS |
| 4K random write (max.) | 700K IOPS | 550K / 700K IOPS |
| warranty | 5 years | |
| TBW | 700 / 1,400 TB | 900 / 1,800 / 3,600 TB |
According to Gigabyte, the IOPS for optional 4K transfer is going back a little, because the top model should “only” achieve 650,000 read IOPS, while the older Aorus Gen4 SSDs are specified with up to 750,000 IOPS. The guaranteed minimum write volume is 700 TB and 1,400 TB, respectively, below that of the predecessor. The guarantee period remains unchanged at 5 years.
Cooler also available as a high heat pipe version
The Aorus Gen4 7000s is offered with 1 TB or 2 TB storage space and with various coolers. The standard version uses an aluminum cooler with a “nanocarbon” coating and a back plate, which means that the SSD is 11.4 mm thick and does not get in the way of graphics cards, for example. The second variant is much higher and has a radiator with two heat pipes, for even more cooling performance with limited compatibility due to the higher space requirement. However, the exact dimensions are not yet available.
When and at what prices the Gigabyte Aorus Gen4 7000s will be available is not yet known. For CES 2021 also have Kingston and MSI PCIe 4.0 SSD with about 7 GB / s to announced.
In Technoeager | Free Gigabyte Aorus Engine Download for Windows and Mac
