What’s the Difference Between a Gen5 SSD and a Gen4 SSD?

SSD (Solid State Drive) is a type of storage media that uses flash memory chips to store data. SSDs have advantages over HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) that use rotating magnetic platters, such as higher read/write speeds, lower power consumption, and better endurance.

However, not all SSDs are created equal. There are several generations of SSDs, which are determined by the interface and protocol used to connect the SSD to the computer’s motherboard. The latest generation today is the Gen5 SSD, which uses the PCIe 5.0 interface and NVMe 2.0 protocol. Gen5 SSDs are claimed to reach read/write speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s, or about 2 times faster than Gen4 SSDs, which use PCIe 4.0 interfaces and NVMe 1.4 protocols.

Then, what is the difference between a Gen5 SSD and a Gen4 SSD besides speed? Are Gen5 SSDs worth buying? What are the factors to consider when choosing an SSD? This article will answer these questions by going into detail about Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs, as well as providing some examples of SSD products from both generations.

SSD Interfaces and Protocols

Before discussing the differences between Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs, we need to understand what SSD interfaces and protocols are, as well as how they affect SSD performance.

An interface is a physical path that connects an SSD with a computer’s motherboard. The interface specifies the number of data lanes that can be used by the SSD, as well as the maximum data transfer rate per lane. The more lanes and the higher the speed per lane, the higher the bandwidth available to the SSD.

Protocols are communication rules used by SSDs and motherboards to send and receive data. Protocols define how data is encoded, sent, received, and decoded by SSDs and motherboards. The protocol also defines the features and functions supported by SSDs, such as power management, encryption, and performance optimization.

Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs use the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) interface, which is the most common interface standard used by computer components today. PCIe has several revisions, which offer increased bandwidth and features over previous revisions. Gen5 SSDs use PCIe 5.0, while Gen4 SSDs use PCIe 4.0.

PCIe 5.0 is the latest revision of PCIe, which was released in 2021. PCIe 5.0 offers up to 32 GB/s bandwidth per lane, or double that of PCIe 4.0, which offers up to 16 GB/s bandwidth per lane. PCIe 5.0 also has new features, such as Forward Error Correction (FEC), which can improve the reliability and efficiency of data transfer.

Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs also use the NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) protocol, which is a special protocol designed for flash-based SSDs. NVMe leverages PCIe features, such as parallel data lines and command queues, to improve SSD performance. NVMe also has several revisions, which add new features and functionality from previous revisions. Gen5 SSDs use NVMe 2.0, while Gen4 SSDs use NVMe 1.4.

NVMe 2.0 is the latest revision of NVMe, which was released in 2021. NVMe 2.0 offers new features, such as Zoned Namespaces (ZNS), that can improve SSD capacity, durability, and efficiency. NVMe 2.0 also supports legacy features, such as End-to-End Data Protection, Host Memory Buffer, and Thermal Management.

Difference Between Gen5 SSD and Gen4 SSD

From the above, we can see that Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs have significant differences in terms of interfaces and protocols used. This difference certainly has an impact on the performance and features offered by the two generations of SSDs.

Here are some differences between Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs:

• Speed: Gen5 SSDs can reach read/write speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s, while Gen4 SSDs can only reach read/write speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s. This difference is due to the higher bandwidth offered by PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0. These higher speeds can improve boot times, load times, and data transfer times from SSDs.
• Capacity: Gen5 SSDs can offer more capacity than Gen4 SSDs, thanks to the ZNS feature that NVMe 2.0 has. ZNS allows SSDs to group data by zone, reducing the amount of write amplification, which is a phenomenon where data is written more than once to the SSD. By reducing write amplification, SSDs can save storage space, increase durability, and reduce power consumption.
• Compatibility: Gen5 SSDs require motherboards that support PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, while Gen4 SSDs can work with motherboards that support PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4. Today, motherboards that support PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0 are rare and expensive, so Gen5 SSDs may not be suitable for all computer systems. However, Gen5 SSDs can operate in PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4 modes, albeit with lower performance.
• Price: Gen5 SSDs tend to be more expensive than Gen4 SSDs, as they use newer, more advanced technology. The price of Gen5 SSDs is also influenced by market demand and supply, which is currently still low and limited. The price of Gen5 SSDs can change with technology and industry developments.

Gen5 SSD and Gen4 SSD Product Examples

To give you a clearer idea of the differences between Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs, here are some examples of SSD products from both generations, along with their specifications and prices:

From the table above, we can see that Gen5 SSDs have higher read/write speeds than Gen4 SSDs, but also have a higher price. Gen4 SSDs have almost the same read/write speeds as Gen5 SSDs but have a more affordable price. Gen4 SSDs also have a greater variety of products than Gen5 SSDs, which are still limited to a few brands.

Conclusion

Gen5 SSDs and Gen4 SSDs are two different generations of SSDs, which are defined by the interface and protocol used. Gen5 SSDs use PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, which offer higher bandwidth, reliability, and features than PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4, which are used by Gen4 SSDs.

Gen5 SSDs can also offer greater capacity thanks to the ZNS feature owned by NVMe 2.0. However, Gen5 SSDs also have a higher price and require motherboards that support PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, which are still rare and expensive.

Therefore, the choice of Gen5 SSD or Gen4 SSD depends on the needs, budget, and computer system owned by the user. If users need very high speed and capacity and have a motherboard that supports PCIe 5.0 and NVMe 2.0, then a Gen5 SSD can be the right choice.

However, if users only need enough speed and capacity, and have a motherboard that supports PCIe 4.0 and NVMe 1.4, then Gen4 SSDs can be a more economical choice.