Key Points
- Silicon Motion announced its first PCIe 6.0 SSD controller, the SM8466, for enterprise storage.
- The SM8466 is expected to deliver up to 30.25 GB/s bandwidth, doubling PCIe 5.0 performance.
- The controller will include enterprise-grade security features for data center applications.
- The development timeline is uncertain, but SMI-based PCIe 6.0 SSDs are anticipated in the near future.
Silicon Motion has announced the development of its first PCIe 6.0 SSD controller, the SM8466. It is part of the MonTitan family and is designed for datacenter and enterprise applications. Wallace C. Kou, the company’s CEO, made the announcement in his column for ChinaFlashMarket.com.
While specific technical details remain undisclosed, industry expectations suggest the controller will feature a PCIe 6.0 x4 interface, potentially delivering bandwidth of up to 30.25 GB/s per direction—double the performance of PCIe 5.0 drives.
As an enterprise-oriented MonTitan product, the SM8466 is expected to include advanced security features, ensuring compliance with the stringent demands of enterprise storage environments. A key area of interest is the manufacturing process that Silicon Motion will employ for the new controller.
While the company has not revealed the production node used for its SM8366 PCIe 5.0 controller launched in 2022, its client-focused SM2508 PCIe 5.0 controller utilizes TSMC’s 6nm (N6) process. It is anticipated that the SM8466 will leverage a more advanced fabrication process, allowing for increased core density, improved performance, and enhanced compatibility with next-generation 3D TLC and 3D QLC NAND memory.
The exact stage of development for the SM8466 is unclear, but its announcement indicates significant progress, suggesting that SMI-based PCIe 6.0 SSDs could be on the horizon in the near future.
Despite this advancement, Silicon Motion has trailed its competitors in the PCIe 5.0 segment. Phison, a major rival, introduced the PS5026-E26 PCIe 5.0 x4 controller earlier and positioned it for both consumer and enterprise markets. While Phison’s E26 has gained significant traction, Silicon Motion’s MonTitan SM8366 has been targeted at the higher-end enterprise sector. With the introduction of the SM8466 PCIe 6.0 controller, Silicon Motion aims to close the gap and establish a stronger foothold in the evolving SSD market.
