Week 34 Tech Roundup – Unraid ZFS Expands, 122TB SSDs, USB4 Storage, Lexar EQ790, and GEEKOM Ryzen AI Mini PC

This week’s tech digest explores major advancements in storage, edge computing, and AI-driven hardware. Highlights include Unraid OS 7.2.0 Beta.2 introducing long-awaited ZFS RAIDZ pool expansion, Phison’s unveiling of a massive 122.88TB PCIe Gen5 SSD, and Kioxia’s innovative high-bandwidth flash architecture for edge servers. GEEKOM’s Ryzen AI-powered mini PC marks a step forward for compact AI workstations, while Lexar, Samsung, and SSSTC continue to push SSD performance boundaries. Meanwhile, UniFi Network 9.4 rolls out major usability enhancements, OWC introduces one of the fastest USB4 portable drives to date, and TeamGroup targets creators with ultra-fast DDR5 memory. From counterfeit HDD crackdowns to the future of PCIe 6.0 and BiCS8 NAND, this roundup captures the key storage and infrastructure trends shaping Week 34 of 2025.

Phison Responds to Fake SSD Controller Report Amid Windows 11 Update Concerns

Phison Electronics has officially addressed the circulation of a falsified document alleging their SSD controllers are solely responsible for widespread data issues following a Windows 11 update (KB5063878). The company clarified that the document—widely shared online—is a forgery and not issued by Phison. While acknowledging that recent Windows security updates may affect multiple vendors’ SSDs and HDDs, Phison emphasized ongoing collaboration with Microsoft to investigate potential issues. The counterfeit report exaggerated claims, potentially damaging Phison’s reputation. Phison has initiated legal action against the perpetrators and reaffirmed their commitment to data integrity and transparency. This incident highlights the risks of misinformation in the tech space, especially during widespread OS updates affecting storage performance. As SSD ecosystems grow more complex and integrated with OS-level features like host memory buffers (HMB), accuracy in reporting becomes vital for vendors and users alike.

Source: Phison

GEEKOM Launches A9 Max Mini PC with Ryzen AI 9 HX370 and Radeon 890M

GEEKOM has unveiled the A9 Max, a powerful mini PC powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX370 processor, bringing 80 TOPS of AI performance to the compact computing space. Designed for professionals, developers, and creators, the A9 Max integrates AMD’s Zen 5 CPU cores, a Radeon 890M RDNA 3.5 iGPU, and supports hardware-based ray tracing. Notably, it features dual PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD slots, 32GB DDR5 memory, and premium connectivity including dual USB4 ports, dual 2.5 GbE LAN, and Wi-Fi 7. The fanless metal chassis offers elegance and thermal efficiency. Priced at $999, it includes a 2TB SSD and comes fully equipped, emphasizing on-device AI processing without reliance on cloud. The A9 Max underscores GEEKOM’s growing role in AI-driven edge systems, blurring the lines between workstation-class capabilities and portable form factors.

Source: GEEKOM

Unraid OS 7.2.0 Beta.2 Adds ZFS RAIDZ Expansion, SSO Login, and API Enhancements

Unraid OS 7.2.0-beta.2 brings a significant update to the DIY NAS operating system with expanded ZFS capabilities, responsive UI enhancements, and improved virtualization support. Notably, users can now expand RAIDZ1/2/3 pools drive-by-drive, a long-requested feature in the ZFS community. The update also introduces login via Unraid.net or any OIDC-compliant SSO provider, making multi-user access smoother for teams. Key enhancements include native support for NTFS, exFAT, and Ext2/3/4 filesystems, updates to the File Manager, and API improvements that boost integration potential for developers. Additionally, Unraid’s VM Manager sees better Arc GPU support and Docker fixes. This release reflects Lime Technology’s commitment to bridging enterprise-level features with home server simplicity.

Source: Unraid

Kioxia Prototypes High-Bandwidth Flash with Daisy-Chained “Beads” for Edge Servers

Kioxia has introduced a novel high-bandwidth flash (HBF) prototype for edge servers, leveraging a daisy-chain architecture using PCIe Gen 6 and PAM4 signaling. Unlike traditional parallel NAND arrays, Kioxia’s HBF uses serially connected flash “beads,” enabling a 64 GBps transfer rate over eight PCIe lanes while maintaining low power consumption under 40W. This architecture aims to augment DRAM in AI-powered mobile edge environments, addressing high-performance needs with limited physical space. Each flash module supports 4 Gbps bandwidth using low-amplitude signaling and distortion correction, ideal for edge AI, 5G/6G processing, and IoT analytics. Compared to Micron’s PCIe 6 SSDs, Kioxia’s HBF improves total throughput by over 2.3x.

Source: Kioxia

Phison Showcases 122.88TB Pascari D205V PCIe Gen5 SSD at FMS 2025

At FMS 2025, Phison unveiled its Pascari D205V, a next-gen PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD boasting a massive 122.88TB capacity. The drive supports read speeds up to 14.7 GB/s and 3.2 GB/s write speeds and is available in U.2 and E3.L form factors. The E3.L model enables greater density—ideal for packing 24 drives in a 2U server, pushing storage close to 3PB. With just 0.3 DWPD endurance, the drive is optimized for high-capacity, read-intensive AI workloads. Phison is targeting the growing demand for disaggregated storage in AI and HPC clusters, as the market shifts from traditional storage form factors to scalable, fabric-attached NVMe platforms.

Source: Phison

UniFi Network 9.4 Released with Faster Adoption, UX Enhancements, and L3 Switch Support

Ubiquiti has rolled out UniFi Network 9.4, delivering improved device adoption speeds, redesigned user experience elements, and expanded Layer 3 switch functionality. The update refines interface responsiveness, simplifies topology management, and introduces enhanced port configuration views. In terms of hardware support, 9.4 adds L3 adoption tools for the USW EnterpriseXG 24 PoE and improved firmware handling for UniFi gateways and switches. Admins now benefit from new wizards for setting up WAN failover, VLAN isolation, and multi-site federation. These changes signal UniFi’s continued focus on enterprise usability while maintaining the clean and accessible UI design that underpins the platform’s popularity with prosumers and SMBs.

Source: Ubiquiti

Seagate and Others Caught in Ongoing HDD Counterfeit Scandal in Europe

A widespread HDD fraud scheme has come to light in Germany, where authorities raided a Hamburg-based firm suspected of relabeling lower-capacity drives as high-capacity Seagate models. Seagate confirmed that thousands of 16TB drives in question were counterfeits and added that additional drives imitating WD and Toshiba models were also uncovered during the raid. The altered HDDs were sold through online marketplaces and B2B resellers, with BIOS and firmware mods used to falsify SMART data and drive identity. Seagate urges resellers and buyers to validate serials through its official tools, while German authorities continue investigations. This case underscores the growing risks of counterfeit enterprise drives in the grey market and their potential impact on data integrity.

Source: Seagate (via ComputerBase)

SSSTC Debuts First Industrial SSD with Kioxia’s BiCS8 NAND for Harsh Environments

SSSTC has launched its first industrial M.2 2280 SSD using Kioxia’s 8th-gen BiCS Flash, designed for reliability in extreme conditions. The drive supports wide temperature ranges (-40°C to 85°C), shock and vibration resistance, and AES-256 encryption. Aimed at industrial automation, transportation, and aerospace sectors, this SSD provides sustained high-speed performance with up to 3,500 MB/s read and 3,000 MB/s write speeds via PCIe Gen 4. It also integrates SmartECC and SmartRefresh technologies for improved data retention and error correction. This marks one of the earliest commercial deployments of BiCS8 NAND, which is expected to underpin next-gen enterprise and industrial flash storage solutions.

Source: SSSTC

Lexar EQ790 PCIe 4.0 SSD with Integrated Heatsink Targets Gaming and Content Creators

Lexar has revealed the EQ790, a new PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe SSD that features an integrated aluminum heatsink, designed for gamers and creators who demand sustained performance. Available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, the drive delivers sequential read speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,500 MB/s. It supports DRAM caching and comes with a 5-year warranty. The heatsink’s low-profile design ensures compatibility with most desktop and console installations, including the PlayStation 5. With increasing thermal demands from high-speed SSDs, the EQ790 aims to balance performance with out-of-box thermal reliability.

Source: Lexar

Samsung Expands 9100 Pro PCIe Gen 5 SSD to 8TB, Boosts Enterprise AI Read Speeds

Samsung has expanded its PM9100 Pro PCIe Gen 5 SSD lineup with an 8TB model, delivering blazing read speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s and write speeds of 6,600 MB/s. This high-performance enterprise SSD is designed for AI and analytics workloads, boasting 2 million random IOPS read performance and low latency. It supports U.2 and E3.S form factors, includes power-loss protection, and integrates Samsung’s sixth-gen V-NAND for improved endurance and efficiency. The 9100 Pro targets data centers deploying NVMe-over-Fabrics and high-throughput inference tasks, while maintaining tight QoS and thermal control under sustained workloads.

Source: Samsung (via ComputerBase)

OWC Launches Express 1M2: 80Gbps USB4 Portable SSD for Creative Professionals

Other World Computing (OWC) has unveiled the Express 1M2, a rugged portable SSD utilizing USB4 at up to 80Gbps, supporting blazing fast read/write speeds of 3,151 MB/s and 2,683 MB/s, respectively. Housed in an aluminum enclosure, the drive offers passive cooling and is fully bus-powered, making it ideal for on-the-go creators working with high-resolution video and RAW photo workflows. Available in capacities from 1TB to 4TB, it’s compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux, and ships pre-formatted with OWC’s data management software. The Express 1M2 is one of the few external drives leveraging the full potential of USB4 bandwidth, rivaling Thunderbolt solutions without being locked to a specific ecosystem.

Source: OWC

TeamGroup Introduces T-CREATE Expert CKD DDR5-7200 Memory for Creators

TeamGroup has released its T-CREATE Expert CKD DDR5-7200 desktop memory, designed for stability and performance in content creation workflows. With on-die ECC, a dedicated power management IC (PMIC), and SK Hynix A-die chips, these modules offer high frequency with enhanced reliability for creative professionals using demanding applications like 3D rendering, 4K editing, and AI development. Each 48GB module runs at 7200MT/s with CL36 latency and is available in kits up to 96GB (2x48GB). The aluminum heatspreader ensures consistent thermal performance, while JEDEC compliance ensures wide motherboard compatibility. TeamGroup continues to position its T-CREATE line as a go-to for creator-grade memory solutions.

Source: TeamGroup

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