AMD Acquires MEXT to Use SSDs as Virtual DRAM for Data Centers

Executive Briefing

• Acquires Santa Clara startup MEXT, which uses AI-driven software to treat NAND flash as DRAM at the OS level
• Targets cost gap: DRAM is nearly 50 times more expensive than NAND flash, straining data center budgets
• Employs predictive memory tiering, keeping frequently accessed 'hot' data in DRAM while offloading 'cold' data to SSDs
• Builds on AMD's prior storage efforts including StoreMi and the abandoned Radeon RAMdisk product
• Positions AMD deeper in hyperscaler infrastructure as DRAM shortages and rising costs threaten data center expansion