Kingston launches 30.72TB DC3000ME SSD for data centres
Kingston has launched a 30.72TB version of its DC3000ME Gen5 U.2 NVMe SSD, extending its data centre storage line.
The drive uses a PCIe 5.0 NVMe interface and is aimed at data centre operators facing rising storage density demands. Kingston says it delivers sequential read speeds of up to 14GB/s and random read performance of up to 2.8 million IOPS.
The SSD is intended for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and cloud workloads, where large data volumes and fast access times are increasingly important. Adding a 30.72TB model raises the maximum capacity available in the DC3000ME family.
It is also backward compatible with PCIe 4.0, allowing use in mixed server estates as organisations move between platform generations. That may appeal to operators wanting to deploy newer storage hardware without replacing all existing infrastructure at once.
The DC3000ME uses 3D eTLC NAND and includes on-board power loss protection to reduce the risk of data loss during an unexpected outage. It also supports AES 256-bit encryption and TCG Opal 2.0 self-encrypting drive features commonly used to meet internal security and compliance requirements.
Portfolio expansion
The launch adds a higher-capacity option to Kingston's enterprise SSD range as data centre customers weigh how to increase storage within fixed rack space and power limits. Across the storage market, vendors have been introducing denser drives as operators seek to support larger AI models, data-heavy analytics and broader cloud use.
Kingston presented the new SSD as part of that shift in infrastructure demand. No pricing was announced in the launch materials.
Tony Hollingsbee, SSD Business Manager, Kingston EMEA, commented on the significance of the new capacity point.
"The launch of the 30.72TB DC3000ME marks an important milestone for Kingston's data centre portfolio," said Tony Hollingsbee, SSD Business Manager, Kingston EMEA.
He added: "As AI, HPC, and cloud environments continue to scale, customers are looking to maximise storage density without compromising performance or reliability. DC3000ME with 30.72TB delivers exactly that."
Data centre focus
Kingston has positioned the drive for enterprise and data centre deployments rather than general consumer use. U.2 form factor SSDs are typically used in servers where endurance, consistency and serviceability matter alongside throughput.
Quality of service was also highlighted in the product details, suggesting the company is targeting buyers that need predictable storage behaviour under sustained workloads. In data centre settings, that can be as important as headline transfer speeds because it affects application responsiveness and infrastructure planning.
According to Kingston, all capacities in the DC3000ME line, including the new 30.72TB version, come with technical support and a five-year limited warranty. That places the product within the standard commercial framework expected by enterprise buyers comparing long-life infrastructure components.
Best known as a memory products supplier, Kingston continues to expand its presence in the server and enterprise storage market. The DC3000ME's combination of high capacity, Gen5 connectivity and compatibility with earlier PCIe generations may put it into consideration for operators balancing immediate deployment needs with gradual hardware refresh cycles.