PCIe Gen 5 and Kioxia: Pushing Storage to Its Limits

What Is PCIe Gen 5 – and Why It Matters

PCI Express 5.0 – aka PCIe Gen 5 – doubles the data bandwidth over Gen 4, reaching up to 128 GT/s per lane. For SSDs, particularly NVMe-based ones, that means seriously fast throughput and minimal latency. These aren’t just spec bumps – they’re the kind of leaps that matter for AI workloads, high-performance computing, and enterprise infrastructure where bottlenecks just aren’t acceptable.

Kioxia’s PCIe Gen 5 SSD Portfolio

CM7 Series (CM7-V and CM7-R)

• Interface: PCIe 5.0, NVMe 2.0, dual-port configuration for high availability
• Flash: 112-layer BiCS FLASH, 3D TLC
• Performance: Up to 14 GB/s sequential read; random reads reach 2.7M IOPS
• Use case: Enterprise-grade use like virtualized environments, ML ops, and streaming platforms

CD8P Series

• Form factors: Available in 2.5-inch and E3.S
• Performance: Delivers up to 2M random read IOPS, with 400K write IOPS
• Flash: Built on BiCS FLASH Gen 5 TLC
• Strengths: High thermal and power efficiency – ideal for hyperscale data center demands

CM9 Series

• Architecture: Combines 8th-gen BiCS FLASH with CBA architecture
• Performance: Up to 14.8 GB/s read, 11 GB/s write; random reads up to 3.4M IOPS
• Capacities: Up to 61.44 TB (2.5″) and 30.72 TB (E3.S)
• Focus: AI, HPC, and enterprise systems where uptime and scale are critical

CD9P Series

• Performance: Matches 14.8 GB/s sequential read, 7 GB/s write; 2.6M random read IOPS
• Efficiency: Achieves ~60% better read-per-watt, and ~45% better write-per-watt
• Form factors: Available in 2.5-inch and E3.S; supports endurance of 1–3 DWPD
• Ideal for: Inferencing workflows, GPU-accelerated compute tasks, and AI-intensive loads

LC9 Series – World’s Highest-Capacity PCIe Gen 5 SSD

• Capacity: Up to 245.76 TB (2.5” and E3.L), and 122.88 TB in E3.S
• Flash: Utilizes a 32-die stack of 2 Tb BiCS FLASH QLC 3D
• Performance: Delivers around 12 GB/s read and 3 GB/s write; ~1.3M read IOPS
• Use case: Tailored for GenAI, massive data lakes, and HDD displacement in hyperscale setups

Why PCIe Gen 5 Matters for Kioxia – and You

• Bandwidth boost: PCIe 5.0 doubles what Gen 4 offered – great for training complex AI models
• NVMe 2.0 ready: Lower latency, higher scalability across environments
• Architectural gains: CBA cuts down on heat and power draw
• Storage at scale: Options range from tens to hundreds of terabytes

Future Outlook for PCIe Gen 5 and Beyond

Although Gen 5 is still rolling out across infrastructure stacks, the spotlight is already moving to PCIe Gen 6, which aims to once again double the data rate. Kioxia’s R&D is clearly steering toward not just speed, but efficiency and adaptability, with a long-term eye on sustainable storage for AI. We’re also seeing stronger signals that QLC and PLC NAND will soon become standard for ultra-dense configurations – offering more capacity in tighter physical footprints.

How to Choose the Right PCIe Gen 5 SSD from Kioxia

Your choice should hinge on actual workload needs, not just headline speeds:

• For compute-heavy AI or inferencing: Go with CM9 or CD9P – they’re tuned for exactly that.
• For large-scale cloud ops: CD8P hits the sweet spot on efficiency and throughput.
• For demanding enterprise workloads: The dual-port CM7 Series handles redundancy and uptime like a champ.
• For storage-hungry environments: Nothing touches the LC9 for raw capacity and GenAI readiness.

When evaluating options, consider more than just capacity – factor in IOPS, DWPD, and power profiles to get the best match.

TL;DR – Kioxia + PCIe Gen 5 at a Glance

PCIe Gen 5 isn’t just a spec bump – it’s part of a larger shift toward smarter, denser, and more sustainable storage. And Kioxia isn’t just keeping up; they’re helping define where it goes next.

Talk to our experts about tailored Kioxia storage solutions Exertis Enterprise