3.5-inch solid state drives (SSDs) are a type of storage device that utilizes flash memory instead of spinning magnetic platters, like traditional 3.5-inch hard disk drives (HDDs). 3.5-inch form factor drives are most commonly used in desktop computers and in many server and network attached storage (NAS) applications. There has been growing interest and demand for developing 3.5-inch SSDs as high-capacity, high-performance alternatives to 3.5-inch HDDs.
3.5-inch SSDs can offer benefits like dramatically faster read/write speeds, improved reliability and durability compared to mechanical HDDs, silent operation, and reduced power consumption. As SSD prices continue to decrease and capacities increase, 3.5-inch SSDs present an appealing option for situations that require substantial storage space coupled with fast data access speeds. The demand for 3.5-inch SSDs is driven by use cases ranging from high-end desktops to data centers looking to maximize performance and density.
Background on 3.5 Inch Hard Drives
The 3.5 inch form factor for hard disk drives was first introduced by Rodime in 1983 as an improvement over the existing 5.25 inch drives [1]. 3.5 inch drives became the most popular size for desktop computers throughout the 1980s and 90s. Compared to their 5.25 inch predecessors, 3.5 inch drives offered greater storage capacity in a more compact size. The 3.5 inch form factor allowed for drives with capacities over 1GB, making them well-suited for personal computer storage and backup needs.
Traditional 3.5 inch hard disk drives (HDDs) use magnetic disks to store data. In contrast, solid state drives (SSDs) store data in flash memory chips and contain no moving parts. While HDDs have higher storage capacities, SSDs offer much faster access times, better reliability, and operate silently. Both form factors have advantages depending on the use case. 3.5 inch HDDs excel for cost-effective bulk storage, while SSDs provide better performance for applications needing fast data access.
Advantages of 3.5 Inch SSDs
3.5 inch SSDs offer some key advantages compared to traditional HDDs in the same form factor:
Faster speeds – SSDs provide much faster read/write speeds than HDDs, thanks to flash memory and no moving mechanical parts. This results in faster boot times, quicker file transfers, and overall snappier system performance (1).
More reliable – With no moving parts, SSDs are less prone to mechanical failure over time compared to HDDs. They are better able to withstand shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures (2). This makes them well-suited for always-on server applications.
Higher capacity potential – 3.5 inch form factor allows for greater storage density vs. smaller 2.5 inch SSDs. Current 3.5 inch SSDs go up to 60TB, with potential for larger capacities as technology progresses (3).
Sources:
(1) https://superuser.com/questions/450445/are-3-5-inch-ssd-drives-available-why-so-many-2-5inch-versions
(2) https://smallbusiness.chron.com/difference-between-25-35-hard-drives-67453.html
(3) https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/wvb4mo/why_do_people_use_25inch_drives_instead_of_35/
Challenges of Developing 3.5 Inch SSDs
While 3.5 inch SSDs offer potential benefits like increased storage capacity, manufacturers face some unique challenges in developing SSDs in this larger form factor compared to the standard 2.5 inch size. Some key difficulties include:
Difficulty fitting components into larger form factor – SSDs contain compact components like NAND flash memory chips, controllers, and other supporting electronics. Fitting all these parts onto a larger 3.5 inch drive PCB in an optimal layout for performance and cooling can be an engineering challenge (Why aren’t there any 3.5in SSDs. : r/buildapc).
Heat dissipation concerns – The tighter spaces of 2.5 inch drives aid with heat dissipation across chips. With more space between components on 3.5 inch drives, carefully designed thermal management is required (possible to buy a 3.5 in SSD? – Tom’s Hardware).
Higher costs – Larger PCBs, more complex engineering for layout and cooling, lower production volumes compared to 2.5 inch, and the need for proprietary connectors/enclosures can drive up costs of 3.5 inch SSDs, limiting adoption (Why don’t the hard drive manufacturers create SSDs using … – Quora).
Current 3.5 Inch SSD Products
There are a handful of 3.5 inch SSD drives currently on the market, although adoption has been relatively slow compared to 2.5 inch SSDs. The main options include:
Seagate Nytro 1000 SSD – Seagate launched one of the first enterprise-class 3.5 inch SSDs in 2016 with the Nytro 1000 series. It uses a standard 3.5 inch drive form factor and connects via SATA or SAS interfaces. Capacity options include 800GB, 1.6TB, 3.2TB, and 4TB models. Performance specs reach up to 195K IOPS read and 125K IOPS write with consistent low latency.
Western Digital Ultrastar SN340 SSD – WD offers the Ultrastar SN340 series which comes in a 3.5 inch form factor with 15TB maximum capacity. It uses a SATA interface and provides speeds up to 700K IOPS random read and 175K IOPS random write. The drives are built for mixed workload enterprise applications.
Samsung PM983 SSD – Samsung’s PM983 line uses a 3.5 inch form factor with a SAS interface. Capacities range from 480GB up to 3.84TB. Performance reaches 220,000 IOPS random read and 50,000 IOPS random write. The PM983 is designed for read-intensive applications.
Overall, the 3.5 inch enterprise SSD market remains relatively small but continues growing. Drives offer compelling specs in terms of speed, reliability, and density compared to traditional hard disk drives. As pricing comes down, adoption of 3.5 inch SSD storage will likely accelerate.
Use Cases for 3.5 Inch SSDs
3.5 inch SSDs are designed for applications that require high capacity storage with fast data access speeds. Here are some of the primary use cases where 3.5 inch SSDs excel:
Server/Data Center Storage
Large data centers and server farms often use rows of 3.5 inch hard disk drives for mass storage. Replacing these HDDs with SSDs provides a major performance boost due to the faster access speeds. The large capacity 3.5 inch form factor allows servers to have hundreds of terabytes of flash storage.
High Performance Desktop PCs
Gamers and media professionals building cutting edge desktops will benefit from pairing a 3.5 inch SSD with a high end CPU and GPU. The SSD provides ultra fast load times for games and quick access to large media files for video editing and 3D modeling.
Applications Needing Fast Random Access
Any application that performs many small reads and writes randomly across storage will see significant gains with a 3.5 inch SSD. Examples include databases, data analytics, financial trading systems, and scientific computing.
Future Outlook
The 3.5 inch SSD market is projected to continue growing at a rapid pace over the next 5-10 years. According to a report by ResearchNester, the global SSD market as a whole is expected to reach over $800 billion by 2036, expanding at around 19% CAGR. Though no specific forecasts are available for 3.5 inch SSDs, they likely account for a fair portion of the overall SSD market growth.
Several technologies on the horizon may further enable advancement and adoption of 3.5 inch SSDs:
- NVMe interfaces optimized for enterprise applications can allow faster SSD access speeds.
- Quad-level cell (QLC) NAND flash memory can increase density and lower costs.
- 3D NAND flash stacking can further increase density and durability.
- PCIe 4.0 increases interface bandwidth which 3.5 inch SSDs can leverage.
- New controller architectures can enable advanced power management and optimizations.
As long as demand for high capacity enterprise storage remains strong, the market for 3.5 inch SSDs will likely continue expanding as technology enables their capabilities and cost-effectiveness.
Recommendations
While 3.5 inch SSDs are not yet mainstream, certain use cases can benefit greatly from adopting this new technology early. Specifically, data centers and enterprise servers that require high capacity drives in a standard 3.5 inch form factor are ideal initial targets (Source). The performance and reliability gains of SSDs can boost these systems, even if capacity is currently limited compared to HDDs.
For most home and office users, it is advisable to continue using 2.5 inch SSDs and HDDs until the 3.5 inch SSD market matures. As manufacturing processes improve and costs decline, 3.5 inch SSD adoption will accelerate (Source). Within a few years, 3.5 inch SSDs will likely become the default for most desktop PCs and servers.
In the meantime, consumers can employ adapters like the Sintech M.2 NVMe SSD to 3.5in SSD Adapter to benefit from SSD speeds in desktops today. While not a full replacement for native 3.5 inch SSDs, these stopgap solutions allow incrementally transitioning existing systems.
Conclusions
In summary, while 3.5 inch SSD drives are not yet common, there are some products starting to emerge in this space. The potential benefits of 3.5 inch SSDs include faster read/write speeds, lower latency, higher reliability, and lower power consumption compared to traditional 3.5 inch HDDs. However, challenges remain in terms of costs, limited supply and product availability.
Overall, 3.5 inch SSDs may offer performance improvements for desktop PCs, servers, and other use cases needing high capacity drives. As manufacturing processes improve and costs decline, 3.5 inch SSD adoption could accelerate. But near-term, SSDs in the 2.5 inch form factor are likely to remain dominant, especially for consumer systems. The viability of 3.5 inch SSDs comes down to use case – for many server, NAS and workstation applications, the benefits may justify the higher price point.
In conclusion, 3.5 inch SSDs are an emerging product category that shows promise for specific use cases, but still needs to overcome cost and availability limitations before gaining mainstream adoption. As the technology continues evolving, 3.5 inch SSDs have the potential to complement or replace 3.5 inch HDDs in high capacity, high performance storage applications.
References
Seagate (2018). “What is the Difference Between a 2.5” SSD/HDD and a 3.5” HDD?”. Retrieved from https://www.seagate.com/do-more/difference-between-2-5-inch-and-3-5-inch-hard-drives/
Western Digital (2021). “The Benefits of 3.5” Desktop Hard Drives”. Accessed March 2022 at https://www.westerndigital.com/products/internal-drives/wd-blue-desktop-sata-hdd#WD20EZRZ
Thurrott, P. (2021). “The Advantages of 3.5-inch SSDs Over 2.5-inch Drives.” Retrieved from https://www.thurrott.com/hardware/ssd/249264/the-advantages-of-3-5-inch-ssds-over-2-5-inch-drives
Tom’s Hardware (2020). “Best SSDs 2021: From Budget SATA to Blazing Fast NVMe.” Accessed March 2022 at https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-ssds