SSDs using the high-speed PCI Express 5.0 interface have faced significant issues with power consumption and overheating since their debut virtually across the board, as all early models featured the same hot-running Phison E26 controller. This is now improving with the arrival of more efficient second-generation modules. Among the first are ADATA’s XPG Mars 980 drives, which benefit from a controller manufactured using a 6nm process.
The ADATA XPG Mars 980 lineup includes three different models – Storm, Pro, and Blade – distinguished by their cooling solutions. The core hardware (literally) underneath remains the same. These are M.2 modules using 3D TLC NAND and the SM2508 controller, a high-end PCIe 5.0 ×4 controller from Silicon Motion.
Development of this controller has been known for some time, but it took a while to hit the market in an actual SSD. The XPG Mars 980 is likely among the first to feature it. According to the manufacturer, the controller alone consumes 3.5 W or less, thanks to the 6nm process. This is an EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography technology as used in the IOD of the latest Ryzen 7000 and 9000 I/O. In contrast, the Phison E26 is still made with a 12nm process – the same node used in Ryzen 2000 and older IODs of the Ryzen 3000 and 5000 generations. The SM2508 is an eight-channel controller, features DRAM buffer, and delivers performance roughly on par with the Phison E26.
ADATA will offer modules in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities, all with the same performance specifications. Sequential read speeds are rated at up to 14,000 MB/s and write speeds at up to 13,000 MB/s – the latter referring to writes into the pseudo-SLC cache. For random access, performance is rated at up to 2,000,000 IOPS for reading and up to 1,650,000 IOPS for writing. Unfortunately, ADATA does not provide complete power consumption figures – something of high interest. Still, as noted, the SM2508 is expected to bring power usage back to PCIe 4.0 SSD levels, avoiding the extremes seen with the E26 chip.
Three versions, two coolers
The company is offering three versions. Under the name ADATA XPG Mars 980 Blade, the modules come without a heatsink, designed for use in laptops. Hopefully all necessary power-saving modes are correctly implemented, which ADATA claims they are, stating that the Blade is intended for laptop use.
That said, the Blade is also suitable for desktop PCs, particularly if you prefer to use the heatsinks integrated into your motherboard.
The ADATA XPG Mars 980 Pro version includes a factory-installed active cooler – a compact, enclosed heatsink with a small radial fan. It’s based on the same blower-style principle once common in graphics cards and still found in laptops and mini-PCs like Intel’s NUC series. The benefit is that this SSD should not overheat even under heavy loads. The trade-off, however, is potential fan noise.
The fan is powered directly from the M.2 module, so no external cable is needed, unlike with some other active coolers. The downside is that you can’t use a noise-reducing adapter or external fan speed controller. Though it’s not impossible, technically – the fan is connected via a small accessible connector, making modding feasible. The fan only has power and ground wires, so RPM monitoring is not supported.
Finally, there’s the ADATA XPG Mars 980 Storm version, also featuring active cooling, but with a significantly larger heatsink design that incorporates axial fans blowing air through lengthwise. Staying true to ADATA’s tradition of experimenting with eccentric cooling – like earlier heatsinks featuring water reservoirs – this model also contains liquid.
It appears the SSD includes a visible “tank” with a metal pipe running through it. Air enters from one end via a fan and exits through the other, apparently fitted with a second fan, making this a push-pull setup. A missed opportunity, perhaps, not to use several metal pipes passing through the liquid, as in a steam locomotive boiler. Again, potential fan noise is a consideration. These fans are also powered directly from the M.2 module, with hidden wiring inside the heatsink. However, there is again a user-accessible connector where they attach to the PCB.
ADATA has officially announced the modules, though only in a preliminary capacity. No release date or pricing has been revealed yet. However, these drives are clearly aimed at the top-tier of current PC storage solutions, and their pricing will likely reflect that – especially the Storm version with its exotic cooling system.
Sources: ADATA (1, 2, 3, 4), ComputerBase
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
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