Tech News
Back to home
Technology

Hard drives on backorder for two years as AI data centers trigger HDD shortage — delays forcing rapid transition to QLC SSDs

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

TL;DR

AI Generated

Manufacturers are struggling to meet the demand for AI data centers, leading to a two-year delay in delivery times for enterprise-grade HDDs. This shortage has prompted hyperscalers to shift to QLC NAND-based SSDs to avoid backorders. However, the surge in QLC NAND demand is causing its own shortage, potentially leading to a global rise in SSD prices. The scarcity extends to memory and storage components, with predictions that QLC NAND will surpass TLC in popularity by 2027. The situation reflects the rapid growth in AI investments but poses challenges for regular consumers facing electronics scarcity.

Read Full Article

Similar Articles

Pirate RPG game is secretly looting your SSD lifespan — new Windrose patch promises smoother sailing and addresses excessive disk writing

Pirate RPG game is secretly looting your SSD lifespan — new Windrose patch promises smoother sailing and addresses excessive disk writing

The Windrose RPG game has been criticized for excessively writing to SSDs, potentially shortening their lifespan. The game's new patch aims to reduce disk usage significantly, addressing the issue of up to 108GB per hour being written to SSDs. Comparisons with other games like Enshrouded and Valheim show Windrose's disproportionate SSD resource consumption. The game's high storage demand is attributed to its save system design, which has been adjusted in the latest patch to improve write speeds by 60-75%. Players are advised to update to the latest version to mitigate potential SSD wear and tear.

Tom's Hardware•
KIOXIA introduces new mainstream PCIe Gen5 BG8 Series SSDs for PC OEMs

KIOXIA introduces new mainstream PCIe Gen5 BG8 Series SSDs for PC OEMs

KIOXIA has introduced the BG8 Series SSDs, aiming to bring PCIe 5.0 speed to the mainstream PC market amidst the ongoing DRAM and flash memory crisis. These SSDs feature 8th-generation BiCS FLASH 3D memory and CBA technology, offering significant improvements in sequential read and write speeds. With speeds up to 10,300 MB/s and 10,000 MB/s, the BG8 Series also supports up to 1.4 million IOPS and a Host Memory Buffer feature. The SSDs will be available in various M.2 form factors and capacities up to 2TB, targeting mobile devices, laptops, and desktops. Sampling to select PC OEMs has begun, with shipping expected in Q2 2026.

TweakTown•
KIOXIA fires back at rising SSD costs with new EG7 Series for PC OEMs

KIOXIA fires back at rising SSD costs with new EG7 Series for PC OEMs

KIOXIA has introduced the EG7 Series SSDs to address the rising costs of SSDs and memory due to the ongoing crisis in DRAM and flash memory. These new SSDs, utilizing QLC-based technology and 8th-generation BiCS FLASH, offer performance comparable to higher-priced options while enhancing power efficiency. Available in M.2 form factors with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB variants, the EG7 Series boasts impressive PCIe Gen4 speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s for reads and 6,200 MB/s for writes. With Micron's Crucial brand no longer in the consumer market, KIOXIA's affordable SSD solution is set to fill the gap and cater to a wider range of systems, expected to launch in the second quarter of 2026.

TweakTown•
New flat M.2 SSD adapter doesn't stick out from the motherboard, unlocking PCIe slots hidden under massive GPUs — JEYI's new 'ArcherX' AIC lays completely flush and supports PCIe 4.0 speeds

New flat M.2 SSD adapter doesn't stick out from the motherboard, unlocking PCIe slots hidden under massive GPUs — JEYI's new 'ArcherX' AIC lays completely flush and supports PCIe 4.0 speeds

JEYI has introduced the "ArcherX" flat PCIe-to-M.2 adapter that sits flush with the motherboard, allowing for PCIe slots hidden under large GPUs to be utilized. The adapter supports PCIe 4.0 speeds and comes in two variants: PCIe 4.0 x1 and PCIe 4.0 x4, with backward compatibility to PCIe 3.0. The design involves soldering two PCBs together to accommodate the PCIe connector and M.2 slot. Despite its slim profile, the company assures that the adapter is sturdy. Pricing and availability details are yet to be disclosed, but it is expected to be budget-friendly, likely around $20-30.

Tom's Hardware•

We use cookies

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our cookie policy.