Micron has demonstrated a new PCIe 6.x SSD prototype that achieves a sequential read speed of 27GB/s, showcased at DesignCon 2025. This speed makes it the fastest SSD utilizing PCIe 6.x technology globally, surpassing Micron’s previous model, which exceeded 26GB/s.
Micron introduces the top-speed SSD utilizing PCIe 6.x interface
The prototype SSD was paired with Astera Labs’ Scorpio P-Series Fabric Switch, facilitating data transfer rates nearly twice as fast as those of the fastest PCIe 5.0 SSDs currently available. The Scorpio P-Series switch, introduced in late 2024, features 64 PCIe 6.x lanes and a four-port architecture, providing essential high-speed connectivity for efficient data flow among storage, processors, and GPUs.
The demonstration utilized NVIDIA’s Magnum IO GPUDirect Storage, creating a direct data path between Micron’s SSDs and an NVIDIA H100 GPU, allowing for bypassing the CPU to enhance processing speeds. This setup illustrates how PCIe 6.x technology can significantly accelerate AI tools and cloud storage workloads.
PCIe 6.x doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 5.0, offering up to 256GB/s of bidirectional throughput on an x16 lane configuration. This increased bandwidth is crucial for alleviating bottlenecks in AI training and inference tasks, addressing the high-performance demands of hyperscale data centers.
Astera Labs and Micron are collaborating to advance the PCIe 6.x ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of having broader ecosystem support, including compatible CPUs, GPUs, and network interfaces, to fully leverage PCIe 6.x capabilities. Despite the prototype’s impressive specifications, widespread consumer or enterprise availability of PCIe 6.x storage solutions remains uncertain.
At DesignCon 2025, in Astera Labs Booth #755, both companies are presenting the first public demonstration of end-to-end interoperability between a PCIe 6.x switch and a PCIe 6.x SSD, which is currently available for ecosystem development.
The demonstration showcases the potential of PCIe 6.x technology for AI workloads. High-speed interconnects are vital for efficiently transferring large datasets, while low-latency communication supports synchronization in scale-up architectures. The PCIe 6.x SSD achieves sequential read speeds of 27.14 GB/s (25.2 GiB/s) during the demonstration.
Astera Labs’ Scorpio P-Series Fabric Switches are designed for AI head-node connectivity and include extensive management capabilities for AI infrastructure deployments. The Scorpio switch integrates Astera Labs’ COSMOS software suite, providing enhanced security and data center observability, while aiding in fleet management.
By demonstrating complete PCIe 6.x connectivity, the collaboration between Astera Labs and Micron marks a significant step to ensure that the PCIe 6.x ecosystem aligns with the growing demands of AI and cloud infrastructure. Their combined efforts to enhance PCIe 6 adoption are evident through their showcasing of advanced technologies at the event.
The ecosystem for this technology is still developing, with manufacturers refining their products to ensure compatibility and efficiency as they aim to support the demands of future AI workloads.
Featured image credit: Kerem Gülen/Midjourney
