ORICO is extending its storage portfolio into local AI with the FlashMem FM9800, an upcoming SSD built around the demands of running large language models on a personal computer.
As AI shifts from cloud chat toward local execution, growing model sizes, longer context windows, and multi-agent workloads are putting new pressure on memory capacity and data scheduling, and the question for many users is no longer just raw compute but whether a model can be loaded and run on the device at all.
Rather than competing on read and write speeds alone, the FM9800 uses a dual-partition design. It comes in a PCIe 5.0 M.2 2280 form factor with 1TB and 2TB capacities, and each drive is divided into a Storage OS area for the operating system, applications, and everyday files, and an AI Cache area that holds selected model weights, context data, and cache data used during inference.
A partition alone doesn’t make flash useful for inference, so the FM9800 is designed to work with AI storage middleware and the Herdsman local inference engine. Firmware policies and host-side software coordinate data across GPU memory, system memory, and the AI cache layer. ORICO is clear that the goal isn’t for NAND to replace DRAM or GPU memory. Instead, for supported workloads, the drive adds another capacity tier that can hold data that doesn’t need to stay in high-speed memory at all times.
That also means it isn’t a universal upgrade, as the FM9800 is better suited to people who run local models, have a compatible M.2 PCIe 5.0 slot, and use supported inference engines, operating systems, and model versions, for which ORICO has prepared a list for interested folks to check first before they buy.
For ORICO, the drive marks a move from a brand known for capacity, backup, and fast transfer into AI hardware, where storage could become part of the model execution and data-scheduling pipeline. The company says its established lines, including portable SSDs, USB flash drives, and memory cards, remain central to its business and reach, while USB4 and Thunderbolt 5 products help validate high-performance storage workflows and build its professional credibility. Local AI memory and high-performance storage now form two development paths in its strategy.
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