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KIOXIA has announced development of the GP Series, a GPU-oriented SSD intended to expand AI systems’ access to flash, while its CM9 is an enterprise PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD family aimed at data-center workloads. They are not interchangeable products, and the GP announcement does not establish a retail launch: KIOXIA planned select-customer evaluation samples by the end of 2026.
What is the KIOXIA GP Series SSD?
On March 17, 2026, KIOXIA announced development of its GP Series Super High IOPS SSD for GPU-initiated AI and high-performance computing workloads. The company describes the drive as letting a GPU access high-speed flash directly, expanding the memory resources available alongside high-bandwidth memory (HBM). KIOXIA says the design supports NVIDIA’s Storage-Next initiative. That is the vendor’s description of the product’s intended role, not independent benchmark evidence. KIOXIA’s GP Series announcement
The name “agentic AI” is broader than what the announcement specifically validates. The stated focus is GPU-initiated access to flash for AI and HPC workloads; KIOXIA does not report agent-specific deployment results or performance measurements.
How does GP differ from CM9?
The clearest distinction is the stated role. GP is being developed around GPU access to flash as an expansion of GPU-accessible memory. CM9 is an enterprise NVMe SSD family for data-center storage, with KIOXIA highlighting a 25.6 TB TLC E3.S configuration for large-scale inference. The available announcements do not provide a direct performance comparison, so they do not establish that one is faster or better overall.
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| Product | Stated role | Interface and form factor | Capacity and endurance | Status established by KIOXIA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP Series | GPU-initiated access to flash as an expansion to HBM for AI and HPC workloads | Specific interface and form factor not stated in the announcement | Capacity and endurance not stated in the announcement | Development announced March 17, 2026; select-customer evaluation samples planned by the end of 2026 |
| CM9 highlighted configuration | Large-scale inference environments | PCIe 5.0, E3.S | 25.6 TB TLC; 3 DWPD | KIOXIA said samples would begin shipping in Q3 2026 |
| CM9 family | Enterprise data-center storage | Dual-port PCIe 5.0/NVMe; 2.5-inch or E3.S | Up to 61.44 TB across the family; configuration-specific endurance applies | Family specifications are published in the datasheet |
The CM9 family’s 61.44 TB maximum is not the capacity of the highlighted 25.6 TB E3.S configuration. Buyers should compare exact model numbers, form factors, endurance ratings, and system requirements rather than treating family-level maximum capacity as a specification for every drive. KIOXIA CM9 Series datasheet
What do the CM9 specifications mean for buyers?
25.6 TB and 3 DWPD
KIOXIA identifies a 25.6 TB TLC E3.S CM9 configuration with a 3 drive writes per day (DWPD) endurance rating for large-scale inference. DWPD expresses the rated daily full-drive write workload over the product’s specified endurance period; it is not a speed measurement. Confirm the exact model’s warranty and endurance terms before planning sustained writes.
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Enterprise design options
The CM9 family datasheet lists dual-port PCIe 5.0/NVMe drives in 2.5-inch and E3.S formats, as well as Power Loss Protection and security/encryption options. These are family-level features: confirm which ones apply to the specific configuration being considered. KIOXIA previously announced CM9 development and a prototype demonstration in May 2025, describing the drive as based on BiCS FLASH generation 8 TLC. KIOXIA’s May 2025 CM9 development announcement
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The March 17, 2026 GP announcement says select-customer evaluation samples were expected by the end of 2026; it does not establish general availability, a retail launch date, pricing, or an orderable listing. For the highlighted CM9 configuration, KIOXIA said samples would begin shipping in Q3 2026. Sample timing is not confirmation of retail availability. The cited materials do not establish pricing or a sales channel for either product, so enterprise buyers should check with KIOXIA or an authorized supplier for current availability and exact part numbers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unproven about GP versus CM9?
The official materials establish product intent, selected specifications, and sample plans—not comparative test results. They do not provide an independent GP benchmark, a deployed-customer result, comparative pricing, or an apples-to-apples GP-versus-CM9 performance test. Axel Stoermann, KIOXIA Europe GmbH’s chief technology officer and vice president, characterized GP as “a new approach to storage for AI systems, supporting the NVIDIA Storage-Next initiative.” That is a company executive’s description, not an independent assessment. KIOXIA Europe release with Stoermann’s statement
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