100+ tiny processors: SK Hynix shows H-TPU design for SSD controllers
SK Hynix described small SSD processors that use about 2.5% of the power of a general CPU core, for future enterprise drives.
SK Hynix showed a new way to run the brain of a fast storage drive. It uses many tiny helpers that only wake up when needed. This should save power in big data centers first.
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Why it matters
Less power and chip area per task can help future AI storage. SK Hynix's figures are its own claims.
Worth knowing: SSDs may get more efficient later.
The details
- The H-TPU handles repetitive SSD jobs such as command processing, metadata and buffer control.
- SK Hynix says one H-TPU uses about 2.5% of the power and about 4% of the area of a general CPU core.
- More than 100 H-TPUs sit in one controller, and only those needed for a request are switched on.
- It was shown at ISOCC 2026 in Incheon, South Korea, on October 12.
- First use is next-generation enterprise SSDs. High-bandwidth flash is planned for next year.
Receipts
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