For years, SSDs thrived under the Serial ATA banner. New generations got bigger, faster, and cheaper. Prices continue to fall and densities continue to increase, but performance has been stagnating for a while. The problem is the SATA 6Gbps interface, whose limited bandwidth keeps modern flash storage from living up to its true potential.

Fortunately, SSDs aren't inexorably tied to Serial ATA. They can tap into PCI Express, which promises substantially more bandwidth through faster signaling and multiple lanes. They can also ditch Serial ATA's dated AHCI protocol for an all-new NVM Express protocol architected with solid-state storage in mind.

PCIe SSDs have actually existed for a while, but most early implementations used bridge chips tied to the very same controllers found in SATA drives. Those initial efforts are very different from the native solutions that have crept into the market over the past year. This new breed employs updated controllers that meld PCI Express and NAND interfaces on a single chip. Native connectivity promises to elevate SSDs to new heights, setting the stage for the next revolution in PC storage.