New SSD powered by PCIe 5.0 technology featuring advanced 3D XL-Flash memory launches, boasting exceptional performance with up to 3.5 million random IOPS - somewhat akin to Optane-style memory.
Sizzling-Fast Storage Tech Leaps Ahead: Kioxia's XL-Flash SCM!
Kioxia has made a splash in the tech world with its XL-Flash storage-class memory (SCM), designed to outshine Optane SSD technology by offering unprecedented latency, performance, and endurance over traditional flash-based storage. But so far, only a handful of companies have dipped their toes into this high-speed NAND memory. All that could change, thanks to InnoGrit – a company specializing in SSD controllers – showcasing a mind-boggling reference design PCIe 5.0 SSD based on Kioxia's XL-Flash, generating an incredible 3.5 million random read IOPS at Computex. This performance may motivate indie makers of solid-state drives to jump on board the XL-Flash bandwagon.
InnoGrit's N3X SSD, equipped with their Tacoma IG5669 controller and Kioxia's 2nd Generation XL-Flash memory in SLC mode, is aimed at latency-sensitive enterprise workloads. This NVMe 2.0-compliant controller supports a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface and delivers jaw-dropping speeds of up to 14 GB/s sequential read and 12 GB/s sequential write, as well as 3.5 million random read IOPS and 700 thousand random write IOPS.
Perhaps even more game-changing, the read latency tops out at less than 13 microseconds, a huge decrease compared to the 50–100 μs latency of 3D TLC NAND, and write latency clocks in at just 4 μs – a drastic reduction compared to the 200–400 μs of 3D TLC NAND. This lightning-fast speed is particularly beneficial for caching, AI inference, in-memory computing, and real-time analytics.
N3X SSDs come in capacities ranging from 400GB to 3.2TB using 2nd Gen XL-Flash in SLC mode (with configurations spanning from 32 to 256 NAND dies). These SSDs serve as a compelling replacement for discontinued Intel Optane solutions.
The endurance rating of the drive is nothing short of impressive: 50 DWPD over 5 years, far surpassing standard enterprise NAND-based SSD endurance levels, making it perfect for write-intensive tasks such as caching, inference, and transactional workloads where longevity and consistent performance are crucial.
InnoGrit imagines that their partners may build XL-Flash and IG5669-based SSDs in U.2 or E3.S form factors, or they could go the DIY route and construct drives in an add-on card form factor, catering to the needs of desktop workstations or even high-end desktops.
Kioxia's XL-Flash is a high-performance NAND technology, designed to narrow the latency gap between DRAM and conventional flash memory. It makes XL-Flash a prime SCM option for enterprise applications demanding persistent memory with DRAM-like responsiveness. Kioxia's 2nd Generation XL-Flash doubles density by using an MLC (multi-level cell) architecture, boosting die capacity from 128Gb to 256Gb. InnoGrit believes that the memory should be used in SLC configuration for maximum performance, as users of XL-Flash mainly seek the highest performance.
Originally, Kioxia positioned XL-Flash as a competitor to Intel's discontinued Optane memory. Now, it appears that XL-Flash is taking Optane's place in the market, with Kioxia being the leading provider of XL-Flash-based solid-state drives. Other companies like Memblaze have shown interest in this technology, but low-cost SSD controller maker InnoGrit could make N3X SSDs more common in the market. Keep in mind that XL-Flash is a specialized type of memory, so it may take some time before it becomes mainstream.
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In recent news, Kioxia is developing an XL-Flash SSD with a staggering 10 million IOPS for AI servers[1]. InnoGrit's demonstration at Computex could signal that other independent SSD manufacturers may join the fray and start producing products based on Kioxia’s XL-Flash technology[2], although as of mid-2025, only a small number of companies have released such drives, with Kioxia themselves leading the majority of the market activity, and InnoGrit being one of the few third parties publicly displaying a product[2]. No other large-scale commercial releases from other companies have been announced as of June 2025.
[1] https://www.semiconductor.com/news/245773406/kioxia-develops-10-mio-iops-xl-flash-ssd-for-ai-workloads[2] https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9hRmj9yacEY0KJyL44NG27-1200-80.png
Technology advances in the realm of data-and-cloud-computing continue to push boundaries, as evidenced by Kioxia's XL-Flash storage-class memory (SCM) that is revolutionizing the storage industry. This high-performance NAND technology, designed to bridge the latency gap between DRAM and conventional flash memory, could prompt more technology companies to utilize Kioxia's XL-Flash technology and help it become more mainstream.
