Experimental pcie 6.0 SSD Reaches Blazing 30 GB/s
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A prototype SSD showcased at Computex 2025 boasts double the read/write speeds of current top-tier drives,but widespread adoption is still years away.
While PCI 5.0 SSDs have become commonplace, a glimpse into the future of storage technology has emerged in the form of a PCIe 6.0 SSD prototype. The drive, demonstrated by Micron, has the potential to achieve sequential read and write speeds of 30.25 GB/s.
The Micron 9650 PRO SSD,while still in its engineering phase,was displayed at Computex 2025 by Tom’s Hardware. The unit was housed in a metal enclosure, connected to a PCI 6.0 expansion card.
The 9650 PRO is currently aimed at data center applications rather than desktop use. It was showcased at Astera Labs’ booth, highlighting PCI 6.0 switches and bandwidth-matching software.
These switches facilitate direct dialog between devices like GPUs and SSDs, bypassing the processor.
No CPU officially accepts PCIe 6.0 yet, and the PCI-SIG certification for genre 6 devices is not expected by the end of 2025.
As no CPUs currently support PCIe 6.0, and PCI-SIG certification is not anticipated until late 2025, the 9650 PRO remains a demonstration of future capabilities. Its integration into consumer systems awaits the advancement of compatible motherboards, processors, and official certifications.
The showcased unit is in the EVT3 (engineering validation test 3) stage, indicating that it has undergone hardware adjustments and is now undergoing performance and compatibility testing.
Further validation through design (DVT) and production (PVT) testing is required before a commercial version can be released.
A previous demonstration by Micron and Astera Labs at Designcon showcased real-world PCI 6.0 performance reaching 27 GB/s.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will PCIe 6.0 SSDs be available for consumers?
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Consumer availability is dependent on the release of compatible cpus, motherboards, and PCI-SIG certification, expected no earlier than late 2025.
- What are the primary benefits of PCIe 6.0 over PCIe 5.0?
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pcie 6.0 doubles the bandwidth compared to pcie 5.0, resulting in faster data transfer rates and improved performance for demanding applications.
- What applications will benefit most from PCIe 6.0 SSDs?
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data centers, high-performance computing, AI, and professional workstations will see the most meaningful benefits from the increased bandwidth and speed.
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