Short answer: the 1PB-per-1U M.3 data center was a 2017 density projection, not a demonstrated Samsung system. Samsung later documented a 1U reference system with 36 16TB NF1 SSDs for 576TB. The story remains useful as a snapshot of a server-storage idea, but it should not be read as evidence that M.3 became a mainstream successor to M.2.
What did the 2017 M.3 story claim?
In a June 1, 2017 article, ServeTheHome’s Patrick Kennedy described Samsung championing a modified server SSD form factor called M.3. The proposed board was wider than M.2, while using the M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 connector. The extra board area was intended to accommodate more NAND packages and power-loss-protection circuitry. ServeTheHome’s 2017 report presented a striking target: drives of up to 16TB and roughly 1PB of storage in a 1U server.
That approximately 1PB figure was a projection based on the proposed density concept. It was not a report of a completed 1PB M.3/NF1 server, nor evidence of broad deployment. The same period article relayed a 500K read-IOPS figure and an estimated power draw for a 64-drive concept; those are historical claims associated with that proposal, not current product guarantees or a like-for-like performance benchmark.
What Samsung’s NF1 reference system actually documented
Samsung’s later NF1 material identifies the PM983 NF1 as a 16TB SSD and describes a 1U reference system populated with 36 drives, for a stated total of 576TB. Samsung also describes enterprise-oriented features including front accessibility and power-loss protection. Samsung Semiconductor’s NF1 material is the firmer anchor for what the 16TB capacity meant in a system: 576TB in the stated reference configuration, not approximately 1PB.
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The two figures describe different things. The 16TB number is capacity per drive; 576TB is the total Samsung gives for its 36-drive 1U reference system. The roughly 1PB number belonged to the earlier, more ambitious 2017 concept. The available reference does not establish that the 1PB target was achieved in an NF1 system.
Is M.3 a current mainstream SSD form factor?
Current form-factor references reviewed here cover M.2 and EDSFF, among others, but do not establish M.3/NF1 as a mainstream current category. SNIA’s SSD form-factor guide, updated June 2026, covers M.2 and EDSFF. EDSFF is a family of standards maintained through SNIA’s SFF technical work group; it is not another name for M.3.
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The Open Compute Project’s Datacenter NVMe SSD Specification, Version 2.6 lists requirements separately for M.2, E1.S, E1.L, E3, and U.2/U.3. These are distinct form factors and specification categories, not interchangeable drive shapes. In practical terms, an M.3/NF1 drive should not be assumed to fit an ordinary M.2 consumer system simply because the 2017 account described use of an M.2 PCIe connector.
How does the historical target compare with a current density example?
Micron’s current 6550 ION example illustrates how high-density enterprise storage is described in a different form factor. Micron calls it a 60TB-class E3.S SSD and claims more than 1.2PB in a 1U configuration with up to 20 drives. These are vendor-stated product and configuration figures, not a direct test against the Samsung NF1 reference system. Micron’s 6550 ION product page was accessed in October 2026.
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| Example | Capacity per SSD | Drives in stated 1U configuration | Stated 1U capacity | Evidence and qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung M.3 concept, as reported in 2017 | Up to 16TB | 64-drive concept discussed for period IOPS and estimated power claims; not a documented 1PB reference system | About 1PB was the projected target | ServeTheHome’s account of Samsung’s 2017 concept; projection, not a demonstrated system. |
| Samsung PM983 NF1 | 16TB | 36 | 576TB | Samsung reference-system figure; publication date is not clearly shown in the accessed material. |
| Micron 6550 ION E3.S | 60TB class | Up to 20 | Over 1.2PB | Micron vendor-stated product and configuration figures; product page accessed October 2026. |
The listed totals should not be treated as a normalized comparison. The cited material does not provide a like-for-like benchmark across the M.3/NF1 and E3.S examples, and the table does not establish whether each system’s capacity is raw or usable. Drive count and capacity alone also do not establish host compatibility, power and cooling needs, or serviceability in a particular server.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check when comparing 1U SSD density
A large capacity-per-rack-unit figure is only meaningful when its basis is clear. For an informed comparison, check:
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- Capacity per SSD: distinguish a product specification from an aspirational maximum or a vendor’s capacity class.
- Drive count and rack height: identify the exact number of drives included in the stated 1U configuration.
- Raw versus usable capacity: do not assume a headline aggregate is the capacity available to applications; confirm how the vendor defines it.
- Form factor and host compatibility: confirm that both the drive and server backplane or carrier support the same form factor and interface.
- Power and thermal requirements: a dense configuration must fit the system’s power budget and cooling design; a historical estimated draw is not a present-day guarantee.
- Serviceability: check how drives are accessed and replaced, rather than inferring operational convenience from density alone.
- Evidence status: separate a concept or projection from a vendor specification and from a stated reference-system configuration.
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