In a move that seriously pushes the limits of flash storage, KIOXIA America has unveiled a massive 245.76TB enterprise SSD as part of its LC9 Series. This new drive, which comes in both a standard 2.5-inch form factor and the datacenter-focused EDSFF E3.L size, is specifically designed to handle the intense storage demands of generative AI and data-heavy applications like training large language models or powering retrieval-augmented generation.
KIOXIA says the LC9 is the industry’s first 245TB-class NVMe SSD in these form factors. That makes it more than just another capacity bump, folks, it’s a potential HDD killer. By replacing multiple high-power spinning drives with one ultra-dense SSD, data centers could dramatically reduce power draw, cooling requirements, and rack space. The result is better performance, lower total cost of ownership, and more efficient use of expensive GPU compute.
At the heart of this monster drive is a 32-die stack of 2Tb BiCS FLASH QLC 3D NAND, using KIOXIA’s CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology. That enables up to 8TB in a compact 154 BGA package (another industry first according to the company). The LC9 Series is designed for PCIe 5.0 and supports NVMe 2.0, along with enterprise features like Flexible Data Placement, FIPS-compliant encryption, and even CNSA 2.0 signing for future-ready post-quantum security.
With generative AI transforming the way data centers are built, storage is now a central part of the conversation. Large-scale language models don’t just need speed, they need scale too. And KIOXIA appears ready to meet that demand head-on.
The company is currently sampling the LC9 Series to select customers. Models at 122.88TB are already available in both 2.5-inch and E3.S formats, while the flagship 245.76TB configuration comes in 2.5-inch and E3.L sizes. Beyond that, no public pricing or general availability timeline has been announced.
As SSDs like this continue to scale up, it’s worth asking how long hard drives will remain viable in modern data centers… especially those investing heavily in AI. One thing’s clear: KIOXIA is aiming to be at the center of that transition.
