Micron launches SSD 3610, the first PCIe 5.0 QLC on the market in M.2 2230 format with up to 11 GB/s

A Micron announced last Tuesday (6) the launch of Micron 3610a component that promises to change the dynamics of storage in compact devices. This is the first SSD PCIe 5.0 QLC of the industry to provide up to 4TB of capacity in the tiny M.2 2230 format, widely used in portable consoles e ultrabooks.

It was launched precisely to bridge the gap between the premium performance of the fifth generation and the cost-benefit of QLC memories.

With sequential reading speeds that reach 11,000 MB/s and recording up to 9,300 MB/sthe new drive seeks to serve both enthusiasts of hardware as well as manufacturers who need high density in little space.

The technology used is NAND G9 QLC from the company itself, which allows more data to be stacked without increasing the physical size of the chip.

The Micron 3610 is the industry’s first PCIe 5.0 QLC SSD to deliver up to 4TB of capacity in the tiny M.2 2230 form factor

Cutting-edge performance in a small form factor

The big difference between Micron 3610 resides in your engineering.

When using the NVMe 2.0d standard and the PCIe Gen5 x4 interface, the device can deliver much higher transfer rates compared to the previous generation, maintaining energy efficiency.

According to the manufacturer, the model achieves 1.5 million IOPS in random reading and 1.6 million in recordingimpressive numbers for a drive without dedicated DRAM (DRAM-less).

To compensate for the lack of dedicated cache memory, the component uses technology HMB (Host Memory Buffer)which allocates a small portion of the system RAM to manage data mapping.

This reduces production costs and energy consumption, a vital factor for battery life in thin notebooks and mobile devices.

Micron 3610 SSD technical sheet

To help you understand the capabilities of Micron’s new SSD, we present detailed technical specifications:

Ideal solution for portable PCs

The M.2 2230 format (22mm wide by 30mm long) has become the standard for the new wave of portable consoles, such as the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally. Until now, finding 4TB drives in this physical size was a complex and expensive task.

Micron’s launch enables massive libraries of PC Games installed locally, without the need for slow microSD cards or physical modifications to the device.

In addition to space, thermal management received special attention. The drive features a host-controlled thermal management system (HCTM), which adjusts performance to keep temperatures under control even in chassis without active ventilation dedicated to the disks.

This ensures that performance does not suffer sudden drops (throttling) during prolonged use sessions.

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Availability and focus on the OEM market

Initially, the Micron 3610 is being shipped to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for integration into future laptops, mobile workstations and artificial intelligence devices.

This means that, at first, consumers will not find the product on retail shelves.obut rather within new partner brand computers.

The strategy to use QLC (Quad-Level Cell) memory aims to democratize access to PCIe 5.0. While high-end models with TLC memory focus on absolute speed records, the 3610 line seeks to balance competent performance with massive capabilities.

The company claims the model delivers 43% more efficiency per Watt compared to Gen4 TLC SSDs, a significant advance for battery longevity in AI and productivity tasks.

This release strongly demonstrates a maturing of the standard Gen5. With more affordable options hitting the market, the transition from older platforms to the new interface should accelerate, benefiting the entire technology and digital entertainment ecosystem.

Fonte(s): Micron