The value proposition of any technology is impacted by changes in market conditions. The accelerating rate at which data is mined, transported, and stored creates powerful and sustained growth opportunities for SSDs. This addiction to data has generated growth of consumer mobile products and an expansion of computing server centers to support those consumer devices.
Enterprise SSDs is one of the most robust segments of the memory market. Worldwide 2012 Enterprise SSD unit shipments grew by 3.6 times over 2011. Convergent expects 100% growth in 2013. Over the five year forecast span, this equates to a CAGR of 41%. Nice growth market…
The opportunities for the growth of Enterprise SSDs highlight changes in server design. As the power budget to cool the computing equipment began to approach the power required to run the equipment, structural changes were necessary in order to support the growing data requirement. System-level designers modified the computing architectures to accommodate non-volatile NAND memory as a replacement for traditional DRAM. Types of servers now fulfill special storage functions with SSDs. Along with the traditional data storage technologies of hard disk drives and magnetic tape that will continue to support archival and mass storage applications, the broad spectrum of NAND-based SSD cost/performance attributes will support faster data retrieval based on tiered storage architectures with lower Total Cost of Ownership than volatile DRAM-based solution.
The challenges of SSD market growth involve comprehending its complexities—breaking the ‘code’—to achieve desired NAND CPGB (Cost per Gigabyte), yet still meet commitments and goals. The increased reliance on SSD in server applications has longer-term implications for NAND Flash technology and for NAND supply and demand. NAND density requirements impact cost, capacity, performance and power consumption in computers implementing SSDs.
As an extension of previous module-related efforts to establish and maintain higher levels of product value, memory manufacturers recognized the benefits of hybrid device configurations in NAND Solid State Drives (SSDs). SSD incorporates NAND and DRAM (and potentially new memory) with logic or analog circuits into a single package. This device can be used as a standalone memory device or as a memory subsystem that includes software. Because SSD has created new IP and there are competitive advantages for those who comprehend the rapid diversification of critical end applications., this will be a market where the first movers will gain a large and sustaining advantage. The change in the target market from PC to higher value end products is changing the value proposition for the memory manufacturers.
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