SAN JOSE, Calif. – August 10, 2025 – In a move set to redefine data center storage economics and capacity, SanDisk today unveiled the industry's first 256TB NVMe SSD utilizing groundbreaking UltraQLC (Quad-Level Cell) NAND technology. Designed specifically for the demanding workloads of modern AI training, hyperscale computing, and massive cold data archives, the SanDisk UltraQLC Data Center SSD (U.2 form factor) represents a monumental leap in flash storage density.
The milestone product was officially showcased earlier this week at the Flash Memory Summit (FMS) 2025 in Santa Clara, California, marking a significant achievement for SanDisk and its parent company, Western Digital. "The unveiling of our 256TB UltraQLC SSD isn't just about more storage; it's about fundamentally changing the economics of storing vast datasets, particularly the unstructured data fueling the AI revolution," stated Dr. Amelia Chen, Senior Vice President of SanDisk's Data Center Solutions division. "We're enabling data centers to consolidate racks of storage into mere units, dramatically reducing power, cooling, space, and ultimately, total cost of ownership."
The UltraQLC Breakthrough:
The heart of this achievement lies in SanDisk's proprietary UltraQLC technology platform. While traditional QLC NAND offers high density, it often comes with trade-offs in endurance and performance. UltraQLC addresses these limitations head-on through a combination of advanced cell design, sophisticated error correction algorithms (leveraging the latest LDPC codes), and innovative controller technology optimized for high-capacity, read-intensive workloads.
"UltraQLC is engineered from the ground up for the enterprise," explains SanDisk Fellow, Ken Tanaka, in a detailed technical blog post. "It goes beyond simple cell stacking. We've implemented multi-layer data shaping and enhanced read calibration techniques, coupled with a controller that intelligently manages wear leveling and garbage collection across this massive capacity, ensuring the robust endurance and consistent latency required by data center operators."
Built on BiCS-8 NAND:
The drive leverages Western Digital/Kioxia's cutting-edge 3D NAND technology. The 256TB capacity is achieved using the 1Tb (128GB) die built with the 8th generation BiCS (Bit Cost Scaling) 3D NAND architecture, recently detailed by Kioxia. This BiCS-8 technology, featuring novel materials and a string stacking process, is crucial for enabling the high layer counts and density required for such massive single-device capacities. Kioxia had previously hinted at the readiness of their high-capacity solutions in their recent technology roadmap updates.
Impact on Data Centers:
The implications for data center design and operation are profound:
- Unprecedented Density: A single 1U server equipped with these drives could hold over 1.5 Petabytes (PB) of raw flash storage.
- AI/ML Acceleration: Dramatically reduces the storage footprint and potential bottlenecks associated with feeding massive training datasets to GPU clusters.
- Cost Efficiency: Offers a significantly lower cost per terabyte compared to lower-capacity SSDs or HDD arrays for cold and warm storage tiers.
- Power & Space Savings: Consolidating storage reduces power consumption, cooling requirements, and valuable rack space.
- Simplified Management: Fewer drives to manage and provision streamlines data center operations.
Specifications & Availability:
The SanDisk UltraQLC Data Center SSD utilizes the standard U.2 (15mm height) form factor with a PCIe Gen 5.0 x4 interface, ensuring broad compatibility with existing server platforms. While performance figures were emphasized as being "highly competitive for read-centric workloads," specific IOPS and bandwidth metrics will be released closer to volume shipment. Endurance is quoted as being suitable for its target workloads, leveraging UltraQLC's enhanced design.
According to the official press release, sampling of the 256TB UltraQLC SSD to select hyperscalers and enterprise customers begins immediately. Volume production and broader availability are expected in Q1 2026. Pricing details were not disclosed but are anticipated to be highly competitive on a cost-per-TB basis. Industry analysts expect rapid adoption in large-scale AI training environments and massive data repositories once available. Product listings are expected to appear on major channels like Amazon in the future.
Analyst Reaction:
"This is the inflection point many in the industry have been waiting for," commented Mark Webb, Principal Analyst at datacenterSPACE. "256TB in a single SSD moves the needle from 'high capacity' to 'transformative capacity.' It directly tackles the 'data deluge' problem for AI and analytics, making petabyte-scale flash storage arrays far more practical and affordable. SanDisk and Western Digital are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with NAND."
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