Dell launches record-shattering server with 9.8PB of flash storage in just 2U
paving the way for massive $75 million 200PB+ AI data center racks

Date:
Thu, 21 May 2026 18:40:00 +0000

Description:
Dell and KIOXIA unveiled a 9.8PB flash server targeting hyperscale AI workloads with extreme density and lower power consumption.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Dell squeezes nearly 10PB of flash storage into one compact 2U server KIOXIAs massive SSDs eliminated the need for seven additional storage servers The complete rack configuration could reportedly cost more than $75 million Dell Technologies has unveiled a new server configuration which packs an astonishing 9.8PB of flash storage into a standard 2U chassis.

The PowerEdge R7725xd achieves this density by combining 40 of KIOXIA's LC9 Series 245.76 terabyte SSDs with AMD EPYC processors. A comparable configuration using conventional 30.72TB drives would require seven
additional servers and consume roughly eight times more power. Latest Videos From You may like DapuStor launches 245TB PCIe Gen5 SSD for Enterprise
Storage Worlds largest SSD has tripled in price in just nine months and now costs more than a new car Samsung-backed Rebellions launches AI inference racks to compete with Nvidia How the server achieves such extreme storage density The KIOXIA LC9 Series drives are available in a specialized E3.L form factor that allows 40 of them to fit inside a single 2U chassis.

Each drive delivers up to 245.76TB of flash-based storage with PCIe 5.0 performance for demanding AI data pipelines.

"The combination of the Dell PowerEdge R7725xd server and the KIOXIA LC9 Series enterprise SSD isn't just about high density," said Akihiro Kimura, technology executive at KIOXIA Corporation. "It's a shift in how we architect AI infrastructures."

The system supports up to five 400 gigabit per second network interface
cards, enabling users to fill and move data through pipelines more efficiently. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
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This allows organizations to scale AI infrastructure without expanding their physical footprint or increasing their overall energy consumption. What this means for AI data center economics Arun Narayanan, senior vice president at Dell Technologies, said the server delivers the storage density and power efficiency that customers need to scale AI infrastructure without sacrificing performance.

The flexible, air-cooled storage configurations are designed to complement GPU- enabled servers, supporting AI data management and model training across the entire AI lifecycle. What to read next RAM shortage? Australian outfit sells server with 1TB RAM and four Xeon CPUs for $1200 Decade-old powerhouse has rare Intel SSD, two redundant 1.1kW PSUs and is worth thousands more in parts Dell's new ultra-compact Pro 5 Micro Desktop delivers AI acceleration Micron launches a 256GB SOCAMM2 memory module using 64 32GB LPDDR5x chips
and yes, hyperscalers can shove 8 in an AI server to reach 2TB capacity: mere mortals need not apply

A single rack using these servers could theoretically exceed 200PB of flash storage, though the cost would be substantial.

At approximately $15,000 per 245.76TB drive, a 200PB configuration would require roughly 815 drives costing around $12.2 million.

Building a complete rack with servers, networking, and cooling would likely push the total to $75 million or more.

Whether the premium cost of these high-density drives makes sense for every organization remains an open question.

For hyperscale cloud providers and major AI labs with massive data ingestion requirements, the math likely works in favour of density over cost per terabyte.

However, for smaller enterprises, traditional 30.72TB drives may still offer better value.

Dell and KIOXIA have raised the bar for what is possible in a 2U server, and the AI data center of the future will be built on density.

The 9.8PB milestone is not the end of the road, but it is a signpost pointing toward a future where storage capacity is no longer the bottleneck for AI innovation.

The technology is real, the density is unprecedented, and the implications
for AI data centers are profound, even if the price tag makes most IT
managers wince. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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