By contrast, AIN P (Performance) will address performance needs of AI inference applications with redesigned SSD controllers and 3D NAND flash memory to maximize input-output operations (IOPS) with a 512B granularity for AI workloads, such as vector database searches and fine-grained random reads. Indeed, SK hynix expects samples of its AIN P SSDs to deliver around 50 million 512B IOPS with a PCIe 6.0 interface and up to 100 million IOPS with a PCIe 6.0* interface by 2027.
"The architecture can deliver up to 50 million IOPS with the 512-byte access for PCIe 6.0, which is seven times higher than conventional PCIe Gen6 enterprise SSD," said Chunsung Kim, vice president of SK hynix. "It is not just built for AI workloads, AIM P can also deliver high IOPS and throughputs for conventional storage applications as well. The proof of concept sample will be available in the E3 form-factor by the end of next year and 100 million IOPS over Gen6, the mass production capable product will be available by the end of 2027.
*A single PCIe 6.0 x4 SSD cannot physically sustain 100 million 512-byte IOPS. The link bandwidth caps out around 31 GB/s vs. around 48 GB/s such performance would require. Reaching that figure would need PCIe 6.0 x8 or x16, PCIe 7.0 x4, or a custom interconnect.
The most advanced element of SK hynix's AI NAND family will be AIN B (Bandwidth) — solid-state storage devices based on the HBF technology developed by SanDisk and co-standardized now by SanDisk and SK hynix. The architecture promises to combine HBM-like bandwidth with NAND density, enabling AI systems to handle more inference batches or longer token sequences without adding AI accelerators or HBM. Given that there is no HBF standard, SK hynix does not talk about actual performance numbers or when it expects AIN B to become available. At the summit, both companies hosted the 'HBF Night' event, where they called for collaborative effort to accelerate NAND innovation.
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Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/sk-hynix-unveils-ai-nand-strategy-including-gargantuan-petabyte-class-qlc-ssds-ultra-fast-hbf-and-100m-iops-ssds-also-in-the-pipeline#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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