Kioxia has unveiled its latest innovation in enterprise storage: the LC9 Series SSD, boasting an unprecedented capacity of 245.76 terabytes (TB). This development marks a significant milestone in data storage technology, particularly for applications in generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large-scale data centers.
The LC9 Series SSD stands out with its massive 245.76TB capacity, making it the highest-capacity NVMe drive available in both 2.5-inch and EDSFF E3.L form factors. This leap in storage density is achieved through Kioxia's advanced 32-die stack of 2-terabit (Tb) BiCS FLASH™ QLC (Quad-Level Cell) technology, utilizing CMOS Bonded to Array (CBA) architecture. This design enables the creation of an 8TB storage module within a single 154 BGA package, setting a new benchmark in storage density.
Source: Windows Report Kioxia Unveils A Massive 245.76TB Enterprise SSD for Generative AI Workloads
Unprecedented Storage Capacity
The LC9 Series SSD stands out with its massive 245.76TB capacity, making it the highest-capacity NVMe drive available in both 2.5-inch and EDSFF E3.L form factors. This leap in storage density is achieved through Kioxia's advanced 32-die stack of 2-terabit (Tb) BiCS FLASH™ QLC (Quad-Level Cell) technology, utilizing CMOS Bonded to Array (CBA) architecture. This design enables the creation of an 8TB storage module within a single 154 BGA package, setting a new benchmark in storage density.Engineered for AI and Data-Intensive Workloads
As the demand for large language model (LLM) training, vector databases, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)-based inference grows, the need for storage solutions that are not only capacious but also fast and power-efficient becomes critical. The LC9 Series addresses these requirements by supporting PCIe Gen 5 and NVMe 2.0 interfaces, ensuring high-speed data transfer rates essential for AI workloads. Additionally, the drive offers flexible data placement and multiple security options, including compliance with the Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) Suite 2.0, which is designed to safeguard data against emerging quantum computing threats.Impact on Data Center Efficiency
Integrating the 245.76TB LC9 Series SSD into data centers presents a transformative opportunity to enhance efficiency. By replacing multiple racks of traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) with a single high-capacity SSD, organizations can significantly reduce power consumption, increase storage density, and lower cooling costs. These factors are crucial in managing the total cost of ownership (TCO) in large-scale data storage environments.Availability and Industry Reception
Kioxia has begun sampling the LC9 Series SSD to select customers, with plans to showcase the drive at the Future of Memory and Storage 2025 event in Santa Clara this August. This strategic move allows industry leaders to evaluate the drive's performance and integration capabilities within their existing infrastructures.Conclusion
The introduction of Kioxia's 245.76TB LC9 Series SSD represents a significant advancement in storage technology, particularly for applications requiring vast amounts of data storage and rapid access, such as generative AI workloads. By combining high capacity with advanced performance features and energy efficiency, the LC9 Series is poised to play a pivotal role in the evolution of data centers and AI systems.Source: Windows Report Kioxia Unveils A Massive 245.76TB Enterprise SSD for Generative AI Workloads
