The computing world is always looking for the next evolution, the next leap forward that delivers faster and more reliable storage. Recently, that evolution has taken the form of Non-Volatile Memory Express, or NVMe. Don’t let the odd acronym fool you; NVMe is a generational leap for computers compared to its predecessors.
What is NVMe Storage?
NVMe is a new protocol for storing and transporting data to and from a computer’s memory. It is built specifically to work alongside modern solid-state drives (SSDs), delivering the fastest data transfer and processing speeds we’ve seen yet. If a computer’s motherboard and its memory are two separate islands, NVMe is the bridge that connects them and enables data transfer between them.
SSDs have long been recognized as an improvement over their predecessors, hard disk drives. This is because they do not rely on moving parts such as spinning disks or read/write heads, meaning they have no latency or access times to deal with. Their lack of moving parts also makes them far more reliable than HDDs. NVMe serves to unlock the full potential of SSDs, delivering better performance for end-users in multiple industries.
How Does NVMe Storage Work?
The first SSDs were limited by relying on the same Serial AT Attachment (SATA) protocols and interfaces that HDDs used to reduce the cost of upgrading to a new storage option. However, SATA was never designed with the high speeds of SSDs in mind and thus became a performance bottleneck for PCs.
NVMe avoids this issue by using a more modern interface, the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) socket. PCIe slots are often used for high-speed components that send and receive large amounts of data, such as GPUs, Wi Fi cards, and now SSDs.
PCIe connections come in five different sizes: x1, x4, x8, x16, and x32. The size of a PCIe connection reflects how many lanes are on the device; an x1 has one lane, an x4 has four, and so on. Because PCIe is a serial connector, more lanes allow more data to be transferred. A 6th-generation x16 PCIe connector can transfer 128 gigabytes of data a second, compared to the 600 megabytes per second that a SATA III connector can deliver.
Drivers are another area where NVMe has a critical advantage. Communication drivers are what allow operating systems to communicate data with storage devices, but SATA interfaces use Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) drivers, which are extremely limited. AHCI has only one command queue and can only send 32 commands per queue. On the other hand, NVMe has 64,000 command queues and can send 64,000 commands per queue!
Together, these factors mean that NVMe allows the computer’s CPU to access, analyze, and save data far faster than it could with older connectors and drivers.
Benefits of NVMe Storage
As the current leading solution for data transfer protocol, what is NVMe’s greatest advantage? There are actually several.
Speed
The first and most obvious is speed. Any application that processes large amounts of data, be it a video game or the sensor network of a manufacturing line, needs to do so quickly and efficiently. For entertainment, slowdowns are simply an inconvenience. In a serious work environment, however, it can cost thousands of dollars or even put lives at risk. An SSD with NVMe can load and save information more rapidly, ensuring workers never get stuck waiting for their computer to finish its work before moving on to the next task.
Lower Power Consumption
Another major advantage that NVMe SSDs have over SATA SSDs or HDDs is their lower power consumption. A SATA SSD uses 2 to 8 watts of power during active use, while an average HDD uses 8 to 12 watts during read/write tasks. On the other hand, an NVMe SSD only uses 3.5 watts of power on average. This helps save money on power consumption and extends the battery life for mobile computer assets.
Advanced Compatibility
Going forward, NVMe will continue to be the standard for computer SSDs, with no obvious successor on the horizon. This means that SSD manufacturers will make their products with NVMe in mind, and computer users will need computers that are NVMe-ready in response. Computers and motherboards designed for SATA SSDs or even HDDs will gradually be phased out and go unsupported, meaning they have a limited lifespan.
Applications for NVMe Storage
Few computer users would turn down faster processing, whether you’re asking dedicated gamers or employees relying on computers in their daily workflow. The advantages of NVMe are particularly useful for:
Healthcare
The healthcare sector is an increasingly data-driven field, as providers rely on electronic health records (EHRs) to record diagnoses, treatment plans, and general information about their patients. These EHRs can be highly demanding in terms of computer performance, but NVMes help alleviate this challenge. The faster processing that NVMe enables is also helpful for running multiple programs, such as patient monitoring apps, on a medical panel PC.
Industry
Industrial applications also benefit from the advantages that NVMe offers. For example, rugged mini PCs tasked with monitoring the sensor feeds from multiple machines can’t afford to get bogged down. NVMe protocols ensure that this data gets processed quickly and effectively, which lets workers respond to any changes that much sooner.
Enterprise
Like other sectors, your typical business can always benefit from faster computers. This is especially important for smaller businesses, as these companies are more likely to save their information locally on their business computers than they are to rely on cloud-based services. In these roles, being able to access information saved onto SSDs quickly is key to having a responsive and effective workforce.
Considerations for Using NVMe
To understand what is NVMe storage, we also need to understand the potential challenges of adopting it. Fortunately, when it comes to NVMe, there are relatively few.
Equipment Compatibility
The first significant challenge for using NVMe is whether it will be compatible with your current technology. A SATA-based SSD or HDD cannot use the PCIE ports that an NVMe-based solution requires. This sort of hardware compatibility issue is why it is so vital to work with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), who can identify and address these sorts of issues. They can also recommend data transfer solutions that let you seamlessly upgrade to new technology solutions without losing any of your older tools and data.
Cost of Adoption
Obviously, every new tool has a price tag attached to it. In the past, SSDs were far more expensive than HDDs, making adoption difficult. However, that price gap has closed significantly; a 2TB HDD costs around $60, while an SSD with the same capacity costs roughly $90. While there is still a higher upfront cost, the superior productivity and operating speed that NVMe-supported SSDs offer help offset that cost. Once again, working with an OEM is key; they can customize their products to help you strike a balance between your performance requirements and your budget.
NVMe-Ready Computers from Cybernet Manufacturing
What is NVMe storage? While it may come across as an obscure piece of computer design, it’s actually key to taking advantage of the latest data storage technology. Properly implemented, NVMe can accelerate everything a computer does.
If you’re looking for NVMe-ready computers for the medical, industrial, or enterprise sectors, contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing. We’d be happy to explore how our products can be tailored to fit your specific needs.