Skip to main content

Think your current SSD is fast? Wait until SATA Express drives go mainstream

what is sata express will it do for laptop desktop pc storage asus hyper
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Solid state drives (SSDs) have greatly increased the efficiency of laptops and hybrids since they’ve been introduced. By doing away with the moving parts found in mechanical drives, thereby increasing read/write access and throughput, SSDs improve speed, boot-up, and wake-up times as well.

However, SSDs run on SATA III connections, and today’s computing devices have already begun to bump up against that specification’s 6Gbps bandwidth ceiling. It’s time for something faster. That comes in the form of SATA Express, which is the next generation SATA interface.

SATA Express, which theoretically supports bandwidth up to 2GBps, essentially doubles throughput of SATA III—after the hit caused by overhead and cabling, that is. Twice the bandwidth is, of course, the next logical increment, but we’ve pushed the SATA interface to its limit. Hence, the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) was hard pressed to come up with something faster. And that’s just what it has done.

A combination of standards

By combining Serial ATA and Peripheral Connect Interface Express, or PCI Express, thereby increasing the number of lanes for transferring data, SATA Express uses a new standard known as PCIe. According to SATA-IO, SATA Express is “pure PCIe.” PCIe is capable of aggregating multiple individual data lanes to form a single link.

The standard supports x1, x2, x4, x8, x12, x16, and x32 lane configurations. With SATA Express SSDs, two lanes are combined, making it capable of transmitting two bytes at a time, thereby doubling the link’s bandwidth.

While SATA drives use an AHIC interface, which is designed for use with spinning media, SATA Express can use either AHIC or NVM Express, which is made for working specifically with non-volatile memory. This allows for lower latency, and improved random read/write performance.

Granted, all this will require new connectors and cables, chipsets, and motherboards, but the new SATA Express standard is backwards compatible with SATA II and SATA III. In addition, Windows 8.1 already contains native drivers for both AHIC and NVM Express.

In addition, the drives themselves, as well as the Intel motherboards that are capable of using them, are already in production. This means that it won’t be long at all before we see this new specification in upcoming PCs, tablets, and hybrids.

The first SATA Express drive

As for the drives themselves, they look like standard 2.5-inchers. If the first one, Asustek’s Hyper Express Drive, is any indication, they’ll actually consist of two standard mSATA SSDs striped in a RAID 0 array with two Gen2 PCIe lanes and two 6Gbps SATA ports. In addition to the dual lanes, the RAID striping also helps to increase the drive’s overall speed.

Intel’s soon-to-come Series 9 chipset will have native SATA Express support. As usual, the storage device is the biggest bottleneck on computing devices. However, the good news is that SATA Express goes a long way toward alleviating it. Therefore, with SATA Express devices soon to come in droves, faster PCs and other computing devices are on the horizon.

Editors' Recommendations

William Harrel
William Harrel has been writing about computer technology for well over 25 years. He has authored or coauthored 20…
The 5 best Wi-Fi adapters for PC in 2024
The Ugreen AC1300 Wi-Fi adapter in a desktop PC.

Whether you're designing it yourself or getting a pre-built PC, it can be easy to get a computer and realize that it doesn't have a native Wi-Fi adapter. Or, maybe it does, but you're internet speeds are getting faster, game downloads are getting bigger, you've already upgraded your router and need an adapter to match your newfound power requirements. No matter the situation, an external Wi-Fi adapter that you can add to your PC setup or even laptop setup will be worth your time. Here, we investigate the best Wi-Fi adapters for PC use. Most are incredibly affordable and just snap into a free USB port and start working.
The best Wi-Fi adapter for PC in 2024

Buy the

Read more
How to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows includes many interesting tools, but if you’re like many people, more and more of your digital life is happening in your web browser and nowhere else. That being the case, you’ll want to keep your most important websites close at hand. The easiest way to access them in Windows is the Start menu and the taskbar, treating them more or less like programs in and of themselves.

Although easy overall, getting a website from your browser to your taskbar is slightly different depending on which browser you’re using.

Read more
This LG 34-inch QHD gaming monitor is discounted from $1,000 to $529
The LG UltraGear monitor on a table.

If you want a top-tier display to go with your gaming PC, check out the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor. Not only will it be a worthy screen for your powerful gaming desktop, but it's also currently on sale from Walmart with a $471 discount that nearly halves its price to just $529 from $1,000. We're not sure how much time is remaining before this offer expires, but like most monitor deals of this caliber, it will probably end sooner than you think. Buy it now if you don't want to miss out.

Why you should buy the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor
Gamers who are playing the best PC games should have a screen that will let you appreciate modern graphics. That's certainly the case with the 34-inch LG UltraGear QHD curved gaming monitor, as its quad HD resolution promises sharp details and lifelike colors, while its curved screen fills your peripheral vision for more immersive gameplay. The gaming monitor also features a 144Hz refresh rate, which is at the top of our computer monitor buying guide's recommended range, and 1ms response time. With these specifications, you'll enjoy smooth movements and quick reaction times, which are extremely important in multiplayer matches.

Read more