The SSD market for data centers continues to evolve, and KIOXIA has just taken a significant step with the launch of its new NX1 series. These solid-state drives, designed for artificial intelligence servers and hyperscale environmentsThey arrive with the novelty of being the company's first to offer direct liquid cooling compatibility. This is a significant detail, considering the amount of heat generated by graphics accelerators in current racks.
The NX1 series replaces the previous XD8 and comes in E1.S format, a physical standard that allows fit more units into the same space without sacrificing thermal managementKIOXIA has designed these SSDs with large data center operators in mind, who need fast, reliable storage that won't become a bottleneck for AI and cloud computing workloads.
Technical characteristics
The new SSDs are available in two thicknesses: a 9,5 mm version that supports both air and liquid cooling, and a 15 mm version that only supports air cooling. Capacities range from 1,92 TB to 15,36 TB, all with a resistance of 1 DWPD (full writes per day)This makes them suitable for read-intensive workloads, typical in artificial intelligence applications. The memory used is KIOXIA's eighth-generation BiCS FLASH TLC, with a CBA architecture that directly connects the controller to the memory array.
Performance and new features
Compared to the previous generation, the NX1 series offers 38% more performance in sequential writes and 20% more in random writesThis is achieved thanks to a new controller architecture developed in-house by KIOXIA. The drives comply with PCIe 5.0, NVMe 2.0, and the OCP Datacenter NVMe SSD 2.6 standard, and are also compatible with NVMe Flexible Data Placement (FDP). An optional self-encrypting variant compatible with TCG Opal is also available.
Availability and next steps
Currently, the KIOXIA NX1 series is in the sampling phase with selected hyperscale customers. The company plans Showcasing the units at the FMS trade fair: the future of memory and storagewhich will be held from August 4-6 in Santa Clara, California. KIOXIA's European subsidiary, based in Düsseldorf, has indicated that these SSDs are designed to facilitate the transition to liquid-cooled environments and low power consumption.
With the NX1 series, KIOXIA is betting on high-performance storage that adapts to the needs of modern data centers, where component density and heat generation are constantly increasing. The combination of PCIe 5.0, E1.S form factor, and direct liquid cooling makes these SSDs a compelling option for those looking to get the most out of their AI and cloud servers. We'll have to wait for them to reach the general market, but so far they look promising.