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Kioxia's Flash Memory Targets DRAM's AI Domain
15 Sep
Summary
- Kioxia develops flash memory to reduce data center reliance on DRAM.
- New XL1 CXL module aims for speeds between DRAM and SSDs.
- Evaluation units for XL1 are expected by August 2026.
Kioxia is advancing flash memory technology to address the growing memory needs of AI workloads in data centers, thereby lessening the dependence on costly DRAM. The Japanese manufacturer is integrating faster NAND flash with novel interfaces specifically engineered for AI systems that process vast datasets.
The company's strategy includes developing PCIe 6.0 SSDs and CXL memory expansion capabilities. Kioxia's GP1 Series PCIe 6.0 NVMe SSDs are designed for high-throughput AI infrastructure, enabling direct GPU-to-storage communication. Additionally, enterprise SSDs like the CM10 Series and NX1 Series, featuring liquid cooling support, are targeted at performance-critical data center environments.
Kioxia's notable innovation is the XL1 Series, a CXL-compatible memory expansion module. This module leverages fast NAND and a CXL interface to achieve lower latency, positioning itself between conventional DRAM and standard SSDs. Kioxia claims replacing some DRAM with CXL modules could double memory capacity and boost performance by 30%. Evaluation units are scheduled for release to partners in August 2026.
