Host Memory Buffer (HMB) White Paper
Innodisk Japan Corporation
Not all SSDs require onboard DRAM to achieve high performance. So, how do DRAM-less designs maintain responsiveness? The answer lies in Host Memory Buffer (HMB). By leveraging system memory via PCIe, HMB allows DRAM-less SSDs to cache critical metadata such as L2P mapping tables, significantly improving lookup speed and random read performance without increasing additional hardware costs or footprint. In embedded and industrial systems where space and component cost efficiency are crucial, HMB offers a smarter balance of performance and design flexibility. Want to learn more about how it works and its importance? Be sure to check out the white paper. ✔ Reasons SSDs rely on fast mapping tables ✔ Trade-offs between DRAM-equipped designs and DRAM-less designs ✔ How HMB enhances performance while keeping the system compact
