SK Hynix Launches High-Performance PCB01 SSD

June 28, 2024 – SK Hynix has announced the launch of 'PCB01', the industry's highest-performance solid-state drive (SSD) designed for on-device AI PCs.

**On-Device AI: This technology allows AI to operate directly on devices, such as smartphones or PCs, without relying on separate servers. This setup enhances the responsiveness and customization of AI functions.

SK Hynix is the first in the industry to implement 'PCIe 5.0 x8 interface' technology in PCB01, significantly boosting data processing speeds and overall performance. Following their advancements in ultra-high-performance DRAM, like HBM, SK Hynix has now set the highest standards in NAND flash solutions, leading the AI-oriented memory market.

**PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express): A high-speed serial interface for digital device motherboards. The number of I/O interfaces between NAND flash and the controller in SSDs influences data processing speed. While x4 interface products cater to the general PC market, x8 interface products are designed for high-performance PCs.

SK Hynix is currently verifying the new product with global PC clients and plans to start mass production within this year, offering products for both large clients and general consumers.

The PCB01 SSD delivers industry-leading sequential read and write speeds of up to 14GB/s and 12GB/s, respectively, essential for running large language models (LLM) required for AI learning and inference tasks.

**Large Language Model (LLM): A language model trained on big data, crucial for tasks such as text generation, summarization, and translation.

Compared to previous generations, PCB01 boasts over 30% improved power efficiency, significantly enhancing the stability of large-scale AI computations. Additionally, SK Hynix has integrated SLC Caching technology into this product. This technology allows a portion of the NAND flash memory cells to operate in high-speed SLC mode, benefiting both AI applications and general PC performance.

**SLC (Single Level Cell): NAND flash memory categorized by the number of bits stored per cell, with SLC (1 bit), MLC (2 bits), and TLC (3 bits). Higher storage capacities within the same area reduce speed and stability, but SLC improves data processing speed for critical data.

Furthermore, PCB01 includes advanced security features to protect personal information. The product is equipped with Root of Trust (ROT) security solutions to prevent external attacks and data forgery or tampering, safeguarding user passwords. PCB01 will be available in capacities of 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.

**Root of Trust (ROT): Ensures secure hardware modules to prevent data forgery and tampering.

Ahn Hyun, Vice President of the SK Hynix NAND Flash Solution Committee, commented, "This new product offers a significant performance upgrade over the previous generation. We are currently collaborating with several central processor companies for on-device AI PC compatibility verification. We aim to successfully complete customer validation and mass production, reinforcing our leading position in the AI memory market."