Introduction

Memblaze is a leading name in the Asian enterprise SSD space, recognized for creating high-performance storage built to meet the demands of datacenters and cloud platforms. With in-house firmware and a focus on real-world efficiency, its drives are designed to deliver speed, reliability, and consistently low latency.

The new Memblaze PBlaze7 7A40 and 7A46 series represent the company's second generation of PCIe 5.0 enterprise SSDs, introducing both 1-DWPD and 3-DWPD models, with the 3-DWPD 7A46 being the unit tested today. These drives feature a Memblaze-designed architecture, built around a new in-house controller known as the "Zhenyue 510," paired with some of the fastest NAND currently available, YMTC 232-layer TLC.

The PBlaze7 7A46, however, is available exclusively in the 2.5-inch U.2 15 mm form factor, with capacities ranging from 3.2 TB to 12.8 TB. Meanwhile, the 1-DWPD variant (7A40) is offered in 3.84 TB and 7.68 TB configurations. Pricing for these enterprise SSDs remains difficult to pin down due to strong market demand, but the average price for both 3.84 TB (1-DWPD) and 6.4 TB (3-DWPD) models has been fluctuating over $1,750 and $3,000 respectively, with significantly lower pricing possible at higher purchase volumes, according to the manufacturer.

As expected, all 7A46 models are rated for 3-DWPD endurance. The 3.2 TB version is rated for approximately 17,520 TBW, while the 6.4 TB model reaches around 35,040 TBW, both over a standard five-year lifespan.