SK Hynix shipping 321-layer SSD for Dell’s AI PC

SK Hynix has started shipping its PQC21 large thumbnail-size consumer SSD (cSSF) to Dell. This is a QLC (4 bits/cell) SSD in the M.2 2230 format, meaning 22mm by 30mm in size, with a PCIe gen 4 interface. The PQC21 provides Hynix says, high capacity, performance, and power efficiency. The company has not released any actual OPS or bandwidth performance numbers, but does say it has an SLC (1bit/cell) cache so that it can ingest data faster than by writing it straight away to QLC flash, which takes longer.

The drive uses Hynix’ latest 321-layer, triple-stack, 3D NAND, its V9 generation, which follows on from the prior 238-layer product, and is available in 1 and 2 TB capacity levels. Hynix says it plans to continuously expand partnerships with other major global customers, which suggests Lenovo and other AI-style PC suppliers.

Samsung is shipping 286-layer drives, Micron is at 276-layers, while Kioxia and Sandisk are at the 218-layer level.

QLC NAND is being used in high-capacity SSDs. SK Hynix’ subsidiary, Solidigm, which pioneered the high-capacity, QLC SSD market, is currently fabricating 192-layer 3D NAND, 122 TB drives, with the D5-P5336 product. It has a 256TB drive coming by the end of this year, and is developing 2xx layer 3D NAND technology. 

Kioxia has announced an LC9 SSD with 245.76 TB capacity using QLC, 218-layer 3D NAND and 32 x 2 Tb dies. These are packaged 32 at a time to create an 8TB package (154BGA) measuring 11.5mm x 13.5mm, smaller than Hynix’ PQC21. Its JV partner Sandisk has announced a 256 TB UltraQLC, the SN670, that should ship in the first half of this year.

Hynix has said it is developing its own high-capacity SSD. A PS1101 product with 245 TB capacity, and PCIe gen 5 connectivity was mentioned in October last year at a Dell Technologies forum event in Seoul. Hynix also revealed three AI NAND product directions that month;

• AIN P - high-performance SSD
• AIN D - high-density (and capacity) SSD with petabyte-class capacity.
• AIN B - high bandwidth SSD

The PQC21 shows that Hynix is now fabbing 321-layer, QLC chips and these could be used in the high-capacity PS1101 drive.