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| Brand | Samsung |
|---|---|
| Model | PM9A3 |
| Capacity | 960 GB |
| Usage Class | Enterprise / Data Center Read Intensive |
| Host Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe 1.4 |
|---|---|
| Total Interface Bandwidth | 64 Gb/s |
| Form Factor | 2.5 |
|---|
| NAND Flash | Samsung V6 (128-layer) TLC |
|---|---|
| Drive Writes Per Day | 1 |
| Total Bytes Written | 1752 TBW |
| Sequential Read | 6500 MB/s |
|---|---|
| Sequential Write | 1500 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | 580000 |
| Random Write IOPS | 70000 |
| Average Latency | 85 μs |
| Mean Time Between Failures | 2 Million Hours |
|---|---|
| Uncorrectable Bit Error Rate | 1.0×10⁻¹⁷ |
| Power Loss Protection | Yes |
| MPN | MZQLB960HAJR |
|---|
Compared with the previous-generation MZQLB960HAJR, the Samsung PM9A3 (MZ-QL296000) steps up to PCIe Gen4 x4 / NVMe 1.4 and delivers up to 6,500 MB/s sequential read and 580,000 random-read IOPS, providing a clear generational gain in host bandwidth and read-side responsiveness. With Samsung 128-layer V6 TLC NAND plus 1 DWPD and 1,752 TBW at 960 GB, it is a strong fit for read-centric enterprise workloads that need higher front-end performance than the prior model without sacrificing datacenter-class endurance.
With an endurance rating of 1752 TBW and 1 DWPD, this SSD is designed to handle up to one full drive write per day across the warranty period, which is more than sufficient for typical enterprise boot, OS, and read-centric application workloads. In practical terms, for a system disk or other light-to-moderate write workload, the available write budget is ample and can support many years of stable operation without endurance becoming a concern. From a reliability standpoint, built-in Power Loss Protection (PLP) helps preserve in-flight data and protects mapping information during unexpected power interruptions, reducing the risk of corruption and improving service continuity. The UBER specification of 1.0E-17 indicates an enterprise-class low unrecoverable bit error rate, helping ensure high data integrity, while the 2 million hour MTBF further supports confidence in long-term deployment stability.
1. The PCIe Gen4 x4 interface with NVMe 1.4 unlocks host-side bandwidth that helps enterprise servers ingest large datasets and complete backup, restore, and analytics jobs much faster.
2. Its strong sequential read performance shortens database warm-up, VM boot storms, and AI model loading, improving time-to-service in read-intensive environments.
3. The high random read capability sustains responsive performance for virtualized workloads, metadata-heavy applications, and high-concurrency OLTP platforms.
4. A 1 DWPD endurance profile makes it well suited for mainstream enterprise deployments that need predictable lifespan under steady daily write activity without overpaying for unnecessary write headroom.
5. Built on Samsung’s V6 128-layer TLC NAND and paired with low typical latency, it delivers a balanced mix of density, efficiency, and fast QoS for cloud infrastructure and scale-out storage.
Lower capacity reference: 480 GB Higher capacity reference: 1.92 TB These adjacent capacities in the same enterprise SSD family typically deliver broadly similar sequential read/write throughput and random IOPS, with capacity being the main differentiator. At 960 GB, this model sits in the sweet spot of the lineup. Compared with the 480 GB version, it gives much better headroom for OS images, logs, snapshots, and steady data growth, reducing early capacity pressure. Compared with the 1.92 TB option, it usually offers a more attractive cost point while preserving essentially the same enterprise-class performance profile. This makes 960 GB especially well suited for mid-scale virtualization, such as a 3-node cluster supporting about 30 to 50 business application VMs.
Q: Is MZ-QL296000 suitable for a write-heavy database server?
A: Yes, it can support database workloads thanks to 1 DWPD endurance, 1752 TBW, low 85 µs latency, and enterprise TLC NAND. For extremely write-intensive environments, higher-DWPD models may be better.
Q: How many full drive writes per day can it actually endure over its warranty period?
A: This model is rated at 1 DWPD, meaning it can sustain one full 960 GB drive write per day over its warranty period, aligned with its total endurance rating of 1752 TBW.
Q: Does it include power loss protection (PLP) and why is that critical?
A: Yes, it includes power loss protection. PLP helps preserve in-flight data and metadata during unexpected outages, which is critical for enterprise systems requiring data integrity, consistency, and reduced corruption risk.
Q: What RAID level is recommended for this SSD?
A: RAID choice depends on your priority. RAID 1 is recommended for simple redundancy, RAID 10 for better performance and protection, and RAID 5/6 for capacity efficiency in read-focused deployments.