Solidigm's Bold SSD Moves: Floating-Gate NAND and Liquid-Cooled Drives

Solidigm is making waves in the storage world, crafting a unique path with its floating-gate NAND tech and upcoming liquid-cooled SSDs. As a subsidiary of SK hynix, Solidigm operates with independence and a clear focus on enterprise storage. But what does this mean for the future of data centers and the broader tech market?

The Solidigm Story: From Intel Roots to SK hynix

Solidigm's journey started in December 2021, following SK hynix's acquisition of Intel's NAND and SSD business. This transition birthed Solidigm, headquartered in Rancho Cordova, California. The company, however, didn't just carry on Intel's legacy. It forged its own path with a keen focus on enterprise SSDs, diverging from multi-market competitors like Samsung and Micron.

In the world of data centers, Solidigm soon carved out a niche with its distinctive floating-gate 3D NAND memory. While the industry grapples with charge-trap flash memory, Solidigm sticks to its guns, producing floating-gate memory at its Dalian fab in China. This approach underpins Solidigm's high-capacity QLC SSDs, like the 122TB model that's been winning over customers since late 2024.

The Impact: High-Density SSDs and Market Share

Solidigm's strategy has paid off. By the first quarter of 2025, the company captured roughly 24% of the enterprise SSD market. Everyone agrees that Solidigm’s focus on high-density storage is appealing, especially for AI data centers hungry for storage solutions combining scalability, efficiency, and performance. But that's precisely where the trap lies.

The demand isn’t just coming from traditional cloud providers anymore. The AI boom has catapulted infrastructure providers such as CoreWeave and Lambda into prominence. This shift isn't just a coincidence. it’s a direct consequence of Solidigm's bold technology decisions.

But here's the thing, sticking to one tech could be risky. Solidigm's reliance on floating-gate NAND, while unique, keeps it trailing in the layer count race. Rivals like Micron are pushing ahead with charge-trap technology. What if the consensus around floating-gate’s superiority starts to wane?

Outlook: Liquid Cooling and Next-Gen Innovations

, Solidigm isn't slowing down. Its roadmap includes PCIe Gen6 SSDs with liquid cooling, a bold move that could redefine the data center market. Liquid cooling, historically reserved for CPUs and GPUs, promises to unlock PCIe Gen6's full potential. Will it become a necessity for high-performance AI environments?

Solidigm’s plans also hint at the possibility of PLC NAND entering the scene. While PLC increases capacity by only about 20% over QLC, it demands advanced controllers and error correction. The transition, much like the jump from TLC to QLC, could reshape storage economics. It’s a gamble, but if PLC finds its footing, Solidigm could be at the forefront of yet another storage revolution.

In the end, Solidigm’s path is as much about preserving its independence under SK hynix as it's about technological innovation. The crowd might be betting on tried-and-true methods, but Solidigm is charting its course with audacity. The question is, who will follow?