Beyond HBM: Samsung, SK hynix target AI data center storage - theinvestor.co.kr

The rapid expansion of AI data centers is driving demand for higher-capacity and faster solid-state drives (SSDs), as companies like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix compete to supply key storage solu... Read original →

The explosive growth of AI data centers is reshaping the storage technology landscape. While early investments focused on computing power like GPUs and HBM, the increasing complexity of large language models is shifting attention to storage efficiency. QLC NAND is becoming the dominant technology, pushing enterprise SSDs toward capacities exceeding 60TB, with Samsung leading through PCIe 5.0 and QLC integration. SK hynix and Solidigm are pursuing dual strategies with TLC and QLC to capture market share. This shift is driving upstream material and process innovations, while downstream cloud providers demand low-latency, high-throughput solutions, intensifying competition. Geopolitical tensions, especially in the U.S.-China tech decoupling context, are heightening supply chain risks and accelerating localization trends. Over the next 12–24 months, enterprise SSD markets will expand rapidly, with QLC cost reduction expected to offset performance constraints. The industry is transitioning from compute-driven to storage-efficient models, fundamentally altering semiconductor value chains.