Micron Technology has introduced the Micron 9550 NVMe SSD, a groundbreaking storage solution designed to excel in demanding data centre environments. This SSD is particularly well-suited for AI workloads, offering exceptional performance and efficiency.
At the core of the 9550 SSD’s capabilities are its impressive speed metrics. Delivering sequential read and write speeds of 14.0 GB/s and 10.0 GB/s respectively, the drive significantly outperforms its predecessors. These figures, coupled with industry-leading random read and write speeds, position the 9550 SSD as a top choice for handling the intensive data processing demands of AI applications.
Micron’s vertical integration strategy, encompassing controller, NAND, DRAM, and firmware development, has been instrumental in achieving the 9550 SSD’s exceptional performance. This approach allows for fine-tuned optimization and the integration of advanced features such as self-encrypting drive capabilities and compliance with security standards like SPDM 1.2.
Power efficiency is another key strength of the 9550 SSD. Consuming up to 43% less power than comparable SSDs in AI workloads, the drive contributes to reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs in data centres. This efficiency is particularly crucial in the context of growing environmental concerns and rising energy costs.
The 9550 SSD is designed to integrate into existing data centre infrastructure seamlessly. It is compatible with leading industry platforms, including NVIDIA’s Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage and AMD EPYC-based servers. Intel has also expressed support for the drive, highlighting its alignment with Intel’s Xeon processor platforms.
Available in capacities ranging from 3.2TB to 30.72TB and across multiple form factors, the Micron 9550 SSD offers flexibility to meet the diverse needs of data centre operators. Its focus on performance, efficiency, and security makes it a compelling choice for organizations seeking to optimize their data centre operations for demanding workloads such as AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing.
While specific pricing and availability details have not been disclosed, Micron has confirmed that the 9550 SSD is currently sampling globally. This suggests that the product is likely to be commercially available in the near future.