Yes, PCIe 5.0 SSDs do exist. PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard used for connecting components like graphics cards and SSDs (solid state drives) to the motherboard. PCIe 5.0 is the latest generation with much higher bandwidth than previous versions, enabling extremely fast data transfer speeds for SSDs.
What is PCIe 5.0?
PCIe 5.0 stands for PCI Express 5.0. It is the latest generation of the PCI Express interface, which has been around since 2004. Each new generation brings increases in bandwidth and transfer speeds. Here is a brief overview of the different PCIe generations:
- PCIe 1.0 – Released in 2004, data rate up to 2.5 GT/s (gigatransfers per second)
- PCIe 2.0 – Released in 2007, data rate up to 5 GT/s
- PCIe 3.0 – Released in 2010, data rate up to 8 GT/s
- PCIe 4.0 – Released in 2017, data rate up to 16 GT/s
- PCIe 5.0 – Released in 2019, data rate up to 32 GT/s
As you can see, the bandwidth doubles with each new generation. PCIe 5.0 quadruples the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0. This enables extremely high performance for add-in cards and devices that utilize PCIe, such as graphics cards, WiFi/network adapters, and NVMe SSDs.
PCIe 5.0 Specifications
Here are some key details on the PCIe 5.0 specification:
- Data rate up to 32 GT/s (per lane)
- Up to 16 lanes, for max total bandwidth of 512 GB/s (in a x16 slot)
- Compatible with PCIe 3.0 and 4.0
- New PAM4 encoding scheme allows faster transfer rate
- Leverages existing PCIe physical layer, socket, and software compatibility
The major innovation enabling the big speed boost with PCIe 5.0 is the adoption of PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 levels) encoding. Previous versions used NRZ (Non-Return to Zero) encoding. PAM4 allows encoding of 2 bits per signal, effectively doubling the data rate without increasing clock speeds.
Another benefit is PCIe 5.0 is designed to be backwards compatible with previous versions. This allows different generation components to coexist in the same system.
Benefits of PCIe 5.0
Here are some of the major benefits enabled by PCIe 5.0 technology:
- Extreme SSD speeds – NVMe SSDs with PCIe 5.0 can reach sequential read/write speeds over 10,000 MB/s, compared to around 3,500 MB/s max for PCIe 4.0 SSDs. This enables workflows with massive files like 8K video editing.
- Higher bandwidth for add-in cards – Graphics cards, network adapters, capture cards, etc can transfer data much faster, improving performance.
- Lower latency – The faster transfer rate and increased bandwidth translates to lower latency for transmitted data.
- Increased lanes – More lanes (up to 16) can improve parallelism for multi-device systems.
- Future-proofing – PCIe 5.0 provides an upgrade path for bandwidth-hungry tech like GPUs, high-res displays, SSD storage, and peripherals.
For consumer use cases like gaming, PCIe 5.0 enables new possibilities with graphics, SSD speed, and connectivity. For enterprises and data centers, it offers significantly faster storage performance and accelerated networking.
Are PCIe 5.0 SSDs Available Yet?
Yes, PCIe 5.0 SSDs are already available from several major storage vendors, though they are still relatively new to market as of late 2022. Here are some examples:
- Corsair MP700 – Up to 14,000 MB/s sequential read, 11,000 MB/s sequential write
- Seagate FireCuda 530 – Up to 12,000 MB/s sequential read, 9,000 MB/s sequential write
- Gigabyte Aorus Gen5 10000 – Up to 10,000 MB/s sequential read and write
- ADATA XPG Starker – Up to 10,000 MB/s sequential read, 9,000 MB/s sequential write
More options are likely to be released over the next year or two. However, wide adoption will depend on PCIe 5.0 supported platforms becoming mainstream. Currently only Intel’s 12th Gen Core processors support PCIe 5.0, with AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 7000-series expected to add support later in 2022.
PCIe 5.0 Requirements
To take advantage of PCIe 5.0 SSD speeds, you need:
- A CPU that supports PCIe 5.0, like Intel 12th Gen Core or upcoming AMD Ryzen 7000-series processors
- A motherboard with PCIe 5.0 slots and lanes. For maximum x16 bandwidth, a motherboard needs to have PCIe 5.0 connectivity built-in.
- A PCIe 5.0 SSD installed in a x4 or x8/x16 slot wired for PCIe 5.0. SATA SSDs or M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs will not achieve the same speeds even if installed in a PCIe 5 slot.
- PCIe 5.0 SSDs are also backwards compatible, so can be installed in PCIe 4.0 or 3.0 motherboard slots and operate at those lower speeds.
Initially, PCIe 5.0 support will be limited to high-end components and motherboards. But adoption in mainstream systems is expected to steadily increase over the next couple years.
Real-World Performance Examples
To give an idea of the performance difference PCIe 5.0 can make, here are some comparisons of benchmark results and real-world tests:
| SSD | Interface | Seq. Read Speed | Seq. Write Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 980 Pro | PCIe 4.0 | 6,900 MB/s | 5,000 MB/s |
| Corsair MP600 Pro XT | PCIe 4.0 | 7,000 MB/s | 5,800 MB/s |
| Seagate FireCuda 530 | PCIe 5.0 | 12,000 MB/s | 9,000 MB/s |
In CrystalDiskMark benchmarks, the PCIe 5.0 SSD scored over 70% faster sequential read and 55% faster sequential write compared to high-end PCIe 4.0 models.
In file transfer tests, the PCIe 5.0 SSD copied a 50GB file in just 5 seconds, compared to around 13 seconds for the PCIe 4.0 SSDs. This demonstrates the real-world difference the increased bandwidth makes.
Game load times can improve by 25% or more with a PCIe 5.0 SSD. Windows boot times also can be a few seconds faster.
For workstation uses, PCIe 5.0 enables editing 8K+ video files, complex 3D rendering, and data mining/analytics workflows that previously were bottlenecked by storage speeds.
PCIe 5.0 SSD Costs
As PCIe 5.0 SSDs are still very new, they demand a premium price over PCIe 4.0 models. Here are some example MSRPs for 1TB drives from major brands:
- Corsair MP700 – $250
- Seagate FireCuda 530 – $250
- Western Digital Black SN850X – $230
- Samsung 980 Pro (PCIe 4.0) – $150
So there is about a 60-70% cost increase currently. However, prices should come down over the next 1-2 years as adoption increases. By 2024, expect PCIe 5.0 SSD pricing to be closer to today’s PCIe 4.0 models.
Do You Need a PCIe 5.0 SSD?
For most general consumer use, PCIe 4.0 SSDs still provide great performance. Games and apps will load very quickly, Windows boots rapidly, and common tasks feel extremely snappy.
PCIe 5.0 SSDs provide more benefit for workstation/professional use cases where large files are manipulated daily. The 2-4x speed boost compared to PCI 4.0 can significantly accelerate workflows dealing with:
- 8K/10-bit video editing
- 3D modeling and animation
- AI/machine learning data sets
- Scientific/engineering simulations
- Database analytics
For gaming, a PCIe 5.0 SSD can help load huge open world games faster. Competitive multiplayer titles also benefit from the lower access latency. So hardcore gamers may want to consider PCIe 5.0 SSD, especially with GPUs catching up in performance.
Conclusion
PCIe 5.0 SSDs are now available and deliver blazing fast sequential read/write speeds over 10,000 MB/s. This is a big upgrade from PCIe 4.0 SSDs maxing out around 7,000 MB/s. However, you need an Intel 12th Gen or AMD Ryzen 7000 platform to benefit.
For most users, a good PCIe 4.0 SSD still offers great performance. But PCIe 5.0 is the new bleeding edge and provides future-proofing for at least the next few years. The ultra bandwidth enables game loading, Windows booting, file transfers and other storage-heavy operations to happen incredibly quickly.
The key advantages of PCIe 5.0 are:
- Sequential read/write speeds over 10 GB/s
- Much higher bandwidth than PCIe 4.0
- Lower latency for reduced lag
- Support for next-gen GPUs and other add-in cards
While prices are still high, expect costs to fall over the next couple years making PCIe 5.0 SSDs more affordable. For creative professionals or hardcore gamers building a new high-end system, PCIe 5.0 SSDs are worth considering for the performance they unlock.
