WHAT IS NVME?
The use of NVMe SSDs is on the rise as more businesses and individuals seeking to upgrade their storage drives for better speed and efficiency. As the amount of data we handle on our devices continues to grow each year, technology that can handle faster data transfer rates is becoming more widely adopted to keep up with this demand.
In this article, we will explore what NVMe technology is and determine if it is suitable for your business. We will also look into the benefits that NVMe can provide for your IT system.
NVME STORAGE DRIVES
An SSD is a vital piece of hardware that manages and retains data once it’s installed in a device. It is a type of memory that doesn’t require power to retain data, even when the device is turned off. For more information on this specific component, please visit our SSD blog.
NVMe, short for Non-Volatile Memory Express, refers to the method in which a storage drive communicates and moves data with the mainboard. Historically, storage drives (both HDD and SSD) use the point-to-point serial protocol to transfer data between the component and the motherboard through cables. Earlier SSDs such as SAS and SATA also use cables and ports for data transfer. NVMe drives, in contrast, plug directly into the motherboard, resulting in a faster and more efficient data transfer speed.
SATA VS NVME
SATA and NVMe drives both have the same function but they accomplish it in different ways, and this distinction is important. SATA was first introduced in 2000 as an upgrade to the previous technology, Parallel ATA (PATA). SATA offered a faster, smaller, more cost-effective, and high-performing version of ATA SSDs. PATA was also used for hard disk drives but it could only reach speeds of 50-120 MB/s using the SATA interface. SSDs, in contrast, could reach speeds of up to 550MB/s, but they were still restricted by the number of queue commands available.
NVMe technology was first introduced in 2011 and it employs a more direct method to transfer data. NVMe drives use the PCIe port to access up to 65,000 parallel command queues which facilitate faster data transfer. This allows the NVMe interface to transfer large amounts of data in one go resulting in a more efficient storage drive and improved device performance. SATA, on the other hand, has only one command queue, which means that NVMe is up to seven times faster than SATA in actual use.
The advantage of NVMe over SATA is evident when looking at the number of command queues available for data transfer. Just like a country road with one lane cannot transport as many vehicles as a six-lane highway, no matter how fast the cars are moving, data transfer also benefits from more lanes to transfer data simultaneously resulting in a faster data transfer rate.
IS NVME WORTH IT?
Like other forms of technology, NVMe drives are more expensive than traditional SATA or SAS storage drives due to their high performance and speed, but the improved performance is noteworthy.
As data plays a crucial role in the functioning of businesses worldwide, it is essential to have a fast and efficient IT network. NVMe technology should be taken into account when upgrading your IT system. Companies that deal with real-time customer interactions depend on the quickness and effectiveness of their network, making NVMe a valuable investment. Additionally, industries and applications such as DevOps, AI, machine learning, big data, and advanced analytics can also benefit from NVMe technology.
It is widely accepted that NVMe technology is the future of SSD technology. Data centers and IT providers are shifting towards using NVMe drives in their infrastructure. According to IDC, it is predicted that the utilization of NVMe technology in enterprise data centers will reach 91% by the end of 2023.
As the adoption of NVMe drives in data centers continues to increase, it is expected that many IT manufacturers will shift away from older technology and phase out SATA and SAS. As with upgrading smartphones to keep up with new updates, newer server releases may not be compatible with older storage drive forms. By choosing NVMe technology, businesses can ensure their technology stays current and avoids the obsolescence of older storage options.