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Intel Announces the 'World's Densest' SSD (zdnet.com)
Intel has unveiled its new 3D NAND solid-state drive (SSD) "ruler" form factor storage for data-center servers. From a report: The chip giant first set out this form factor a year ago, based on the Enterprise & Datacenter Storage Form Factor (EDSFF) standard for server makers to cut cooling costs and offer a more efficient format than SSDs in the classic 2.5 inch size. Intel describes the new ruler-shaped Intel SSD DC P4500, which is 12 inches by 1.5 inches, and a third of an inch thick, as the world's densest SSD. Server makers can jam up to one petabyte (PB) -- or a thousand terabytes (TB) -- of data into 1U server racks by lining up 32 of these 32TB Intel rulers together. So, instead of the decades-old 2.5-inch square SSD drives inherited from and designed for disk-based storage, Intel now has long and skinny sticks, thanks to flash. The new shape allows it to optimize SSD storage density, cooling, and power for data centers.
This could be a real changer for data center deployments. There is not reason why we have the 2.5" form factor anymore. There's no more spinning disks inside. So if storage is still in a rack, utilize the depth of the 1U system better. Blade centers or dedicated storage arrays. Also, why not have disks plugging in the front and back of the 1U system.
This might not catch on, but being first in line is a good place to be. Wow, Intel still has some engineers, who haven't been let go, who can imagine something new.