HighPoint introduces its latest RocketAIC cards, enterprise-class PCIe 4.0 Add-In Cards (AICs) designed for reliability and endurance, providing an impressive storage density of up to 122TB.

The RocketAIC stands out from other PCIe 4.0 AIC solutions by utilizing the Solidigm D7-P5520 E1.S NVMe SSDs, a 114-layer TLC drive, in its design. Featuring eight E1.S NVMe ports, the RocketAIC accommodates up to eight E.1S drives. To power these drives, the AIC comes equipped with a standard 6-pin PCIe power connector for external power. Each E.1S SSD is ensured its own PCIe 4.0 x4 interface through an undisclosed Broadcom PCIe 4.0 switch.

The design of the RocketAIC emphasizes efficient cooling to counter the heat challenges in AIC setups. Integrated heatsinks and cooling fans ensure optimal performance and reliability for the E.1S SSDs. Two capacities are available for the RocketAIC: 30.72TB and 61.44TB. By pairing two AICs in a dual-drive setup, users can reach an impressive 122.88TB of storage. The performance of the 61.44TB model reaches read and write speeds of up to 27 GB/s and 18 GB/s, respectively. However, in a dual-drive configuration, these speeds increase significantly to 54 GB/s reads and 36 GB/s writes.

Here are the technical specifications for the available RocketAIC models:

RA7749EM-S30T7-01:

• Storage: 30.72 TB
• Read Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 14 GB/s
• Write Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 10 GB/s
• Read Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 26 GB/s
• Write Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 19 GB/s
• MSRP: $4,999.99
• Power consumption: 137.28W

RA7749EM-S61T4-02:

• Storage: 61.44 TB
• Read Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 14 GB/s
• Write Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 10 GB/s
• Read Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 27 GB/s
• Write Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 18 GB/s
• MSRP: $9,999.99
• Power consumption: 161.298W

RA7749EN-S61T4-01:

• Storage: 61.44 TB
• Read Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 27 GB/s
• Write Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 19 GB/s
• Read Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 53 GB/s
• Write Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 38 GB/s
• MSRP: Not disclosed
• Power consumption: Not disclosed

RA7749EN-S122T-02:

• Storage: 122.88 TB
• Read Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 27 GB/s
• Write Performance (4 x PCIe 4.0 x8): 19 GB/s
• Read Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 54 GB/s
• Write Performance (2 x PCIe 4.0 x16): 36 GB/s
• MSRP: Not disclosed
• Power consumption: Not disclosed

The RocketAIC supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 arrays, offering users the choice of optimal performance, added security, or a combination of both. It's important to note that the RocketAIC supports data RAID but not boot RAID.

The AIC comes in a standard full-height, full-length, dual-width form factor, with dimensions of 7.68 x 4.37 x 0.85 inches (195.07 x 111 x 21.59mm). It is compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows operating systems. However, users must pay attention to the part number, as the "EM" suffix indicates macOS compatibility, while the "EW" suffix is for Windows and Linux systems. The RocketAIC comes with a three-year warranty, and the endurance limits vary based on the SKU. In a single-drive configuration, the 30.72TB and 61.44TB drives offer 7 PBW and 14 PBW, respectively. In the dual-drive 61.44TB and 122.88TB setups, the endurance limits increase to 56 PBW and 112 PBW, respectively.

Pricing for the RocketAIC is as follows: $4,999.99 for the 30.72TB model, and $9,999.99 for the 61.44TB model. The dual-drive configurations have not been listed on the company's eStore yet, but they are expected to cost twice the price of the single AIC models

HighPoint's Dual RocketAIC Cards Offer 122TB of SSD Storage at 54 GB/s