SK Hynix Inc. is pushing into the artificial intelligence storage market with a new solid-state drive that packs 61 terabytes of capacity, aiming to capitalize on surging demand for data center components.
The South Korean chipmaker’s PS1012 U.2 drive uses PCIe 5.0 technology to achieve data transfer speeds of up to 32 gigatransfers per second, twice the rate of current models. The company plans to send test units to server manufacturers by year-end.
SK Hynix is developing even larger capacity versions, including a 122TB model slated for the third quarter of 2025 and a 244TB version using its recently developed 321-layer 4D NAND technology.
The move reflects intensifying competition among memory makers to capture the growing AI infrastructure market. The company’s chief development officer indicated that SK Hynix aims to establish itself as a comprehensive AI memory provider.
The new drive builds on technology from SK Hynix’s subsidiary Solidigm, which pioneered commercial quad-level cell drives for enterprise use. While QLC storage offers higher capacity at lower cost, it typically provides less durability than other NAND types.
