Intel and Micron have announced the industry’s first sub-40nm NAND memory chip. It’s new 34nm 32Gb NAND MLC (Multi-Level Cell) memory will open up new doors for Intel and is the key to Intel’s upcoming Solid State Drives (SSD) launch. Intel is currently planning to launch two drives this fall along with the Centrino 2 platform, at 80GB and 160GB. Intel’s specifically states that these high-density chips were designed for SSDs and the upcoming lineup will based on the ONFI 2.0 specification, which means speeds in the +100MB/s and beyond range.
“This new 32 Gb device provides the best bit storage density available in the industry,” said Brian Shirley, vice president of Micron’s Memory Group. “Together with our partners at Intel, we’re proud to have now taken the lead in production process technology.”
A single 300mm wafer will contain 1.6TB of storage and each chip has a mere size of 172mm². Intel and Micron is planning lower density chips within the near future, along with SLC (Single-Layer Cell) NAND chips, which should prove even faster, although also less cost efficient. Intel has made prior statements about SSDs not being ready for the retail channel just yet, and that it will focus on supplying enterprises with SSDs for now. Intel SSD will certainly not become commodities at first, but more actors means we’re getting closer to it.
“The introduction of 34nm process technology highlights IMFT’s rapid progress and moves us to the forefront of NAND process technology,” said Pete Hazen, director of marketing, Intel NAND Products Group. “These advancements will expand the value proposition and accelerate the adoption of solid-state drive (SSD) solutions in computing platforms.”
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