Consumers and businesses are eager to adopt new applications that utilize such game-changing technologies as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Without a doubt, applying these technologies to modern problems offers a virtually endless array of potential and enhanced experiences. But these are data-intensive technologies that pose significant challenges to existing storage architectures that can turn into operational inefficiencies, sub-par user experiences, and lost revenue. Fortunately, Intel Solid State Drives (SSDs) offers speed and endurance, while quad-level cell (QLC) 3D NAND Technology provides large capacity, combining for efficient, and cost-effective storage that today’s most innovative applications demand.
QLC SSDs: Outperforming Traditional HDDs
Historically, organizations have chosen to leverage hard disk drives (HDDs) to make their data storage more efficient. However, this strategy is proving suboptimal for many organizations today. Not only is HDD performance insufficient for the data-heavy applications these organizations rely on, but they also do not offer a very attractive price per gigabyte. Costs only increase as more HDDs are added, and the total storage footprint of the organization begins to swell. The fact that HDDs have moving parts, which contributes to their much higher failure rate compared to SSDs, makes it even more evident that a better storage solution is needed. This is where Intel QLC 3D NAND Technology enters the picture.
A Proven & Time-Tested Technology
QLC 3D NAND SSDs are based on cell technology that has earned a reputation for reliability and quality for more than three decades. Such enduring leadership in the data management space is a true indicator of Intel’s success in meeting the demands of the ever-changing market. With QLC NAND, Intel developed an innovative vertical floating-gate technology that allows for tiny cell size and 64 layers, translating to more data in less space at a lower cost. Rigorous testing ensures the utmost dependability and protection from charge loss so that customers know they can count on this Intel technology to meet their most complex storage demands.
Cost-Effective Storage with Intel QLC SSDs
Intel QLC 3D NAND SSDs are an excellent choice for keeping total costs to a minimum. The technology can provide up to 33 percent more bits per cell than previous generation tri-level cell (TLC) SSDs[1], which equates to lower power and cooling costs due to fewer systems being necessary overall. On top of that, SSDs do not fail at the rate of HDDs. Spending less money on replacement drives equates to significant operational and capital cost savings. At the end of the day, storage reliability and capacity should not come at the expense of cost-effectiveness, and the Intel QLC 3D NAND SSDs address this concern.
Unleashing Performance for Data-Intensive Workloads
Intel QLC SSDs offer unique performance benefits compared to other storage options. Much of the power of QLC Technology is derived from the fact that instead of using the SATA interface like many other SSDs, it uses the PCI Express (PCIe) interface, which is well known for its much faster speeds in comparison with SATA. PCIe also supports the Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) protocol, which provides low latency and high throughput.
To achieve even greater performance in situations with extraordinarily high I/O operations per second (IOPS) and low latency demands, QLC SSDs can be paired with Intel Optane, a revolutionary technology based on an entirely new memory cell. With this combination, speed and responsiveness can be dramatically increased so that end-users do not face any unnecessary delays in accessing the information and files that they need.
Evaluating Intel QLC and Optane SSDs for Your Application
Gaining control over the increasing and changing nature of data is at the heart of many businesses’ competitive strategy today. Likewise, consumers are demanding the use of applications that are more data-centric than ever before. Intel’s QLC 3D NAND and Optane SSD technologies directly address these demands with exceptional performance, capacity, and value.
At UNICOM Engineering, we have spent decades working with leading technology innovators to integrate such systems into their solution designs. As an Intel Technology Provider, our longstanding partnership gives us an unrivaled ability to optimize our clients’ solutions with world-class technology such as the latest generation SSDs and much more. We also have the advantage of insights into product roadmaps to ensure you are well prepared for any technology changes down the road. If you would like to learn more about how we can help bring your new solution to market and stay ahead of the competition, visit our website or call us today at (800) 977-1010 to schedule a consultation.
[1] 33% more bits per cell. TLC contains 3 bits per cell, and QLC contains 4 bits per cell. Calculated as (4-3)/3 = 33% more bits per cell.