[andy4blaze]

Andy at Backblaze here. We use SSDs in our core servers and more recently in boot drives as they both need to speed. To store data in our case we don't need the speed so its not worth it yet. Given the amount of data growth, most predictions have HDDs still with about 50% of the storage market in 2025.

[PeterStuer]

As a thought experiment disregarding the cost: How much SSD based storage could you effectively pack in a single pod (including wiring/distribution/power/cooling etc.) today?

[magicalhippo]

Seems SSD has potential for higher density though, no?

Though cross-over point is still some time away, a decade or so?

[jeffbee]

In terms of volumetric density, flash is already much higher. A 4TB m.2 2280 SSD is ~70 times smaller than a 16TB 3.5" HDD.

[magicalhippo]

Yes, I was imprecise, I meant at roughly the same cost.

Just seems that the spinning rust guys have to jump through some pretty extreme hoops to get density up, while the flash guys "just" have to reduce cost, which gives them more angles of attack (ie either further density increase or process optimization).