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On Thu, 4 Jul, 12:04 AM UTC
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16TB M.2 SSDs will soon grace the market -- Kioxia unveils 2Tb 3D QLC NAND to build bigger SSDs
After Western Digital announced its 2Tb 3D QLC NAND components in mid-June, it was a matter of time before its manufacturing partner Kioxia followed suit and revealed its 2Tb 3D QLC devices, which it did today. Unlike Western Digital, Kioxia shared more details about these 256GB 3D QLC NAND components, which look like they can be used to build high-performance and high-capacity drives. Kioxia's 2Tb 3D QLC NAND devices rely on the company's 218-layer BiCS8 process technology and boast an interface speed of 3,600 MT/s, making them some of the world's fastest flash memory components. In addition to increased performance, the new devices boast a 70% write power efficiency compared to Kioxia's 3D QLC based on the BiCS5 production node (due to higher density and power efficiency). While Kioxia's 2Tb 3D QLC NAND looks very fast, the company also has a secret weapon: performance-optimized 1Tb 3D QLC NAND. The performance-focused 1Tb QLC offers a 30% faster sequential write performance and a 15% lower read latency. The NAND maker says that its 1Tb 3D QLC devices will be positioned for client SSDs and mobile applications, offering ultimate performance that is perhaps in line with those based on 3D TLC NAND. The increased storage capacity of Kioxia's 2Tb 3D QLC NAND devices will enable customers to build high-capacity SSDs in small form factors. For example, a 16-Hi stacked package (measuring 11.5 x 13.5 x 1.5 mm) could create a 4TB M.2-2230 SSD or a 16TB M.2-2280 drive. This will benefit Kioxia's customers who build SSDs. Like Western Digital, Kioxia positions its BiCS8 2Tb 3D QLC NAND for artificial intelligence and backup storage, which is logical as both applications benefit from high storage density. Interested parties are currently testing these devices. "We are pleased to be shipping samples of our new 2Tb QLC with the new eighth-generation BiCS flash technology," said Hideshi Miyajima, CTO of Kioxia. "With its industry-leading high bit density, high-speed data transfer, and superior power efficiency, the 2Tb QLC product will offer new value for rapidly emerging AI applications and large storage applications demanding power and space savings." Pure Storage is expected to be one of Kioxia's first customers to incorporate 2Tb 3D QLC NAND into its products. "We have a long-standing relationship with KIOXIA and are delighted to incorporate their eighth-generation BiCS Flash 2Tb QLC flash memory products to enhance the performance and efficiency of our all-flash storage solutions," said Charles Giancarlo, CEO of Pure Storage. "Pure's unified all-flash data storage platform is able to meet the demanding needs of artificial intelligence as well as the aggressive costs of backup storage. Backed by Kioxia technology, Pure Storage will continue to offer unmatched performance, power efficiency, and reliability, delivering exceptional value to our customers."
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Kioxia Begins Shipping Samples of 2Tb QLC NAND Flash with Industry-Leading Capacity
Kioxia Corporation, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, announced the commencement of sample shipments for its 2Tb QLC NAND flash, noted for having the largest capacity in the industry. This product leverages the 8th generation BiCS FLASH technology, offering a bit density approximately 2.3 times higher and write power efficiency improved by about 70% compared to the 5th generation QLC NAND. By stacking sixteen 2Tb chips, the product achieves a total capacity of 4TB per package within dimensions of 11.5×13.5×1.5mm. This advancement facilitates the development of new capacity tiers for SSDs, catering to expanding data demands, particularly in AI workloads and various other applications. In addition to the 2Tb QLC NAND, Kioxia offers a 1Tb QLC NAND with enhanced performance metrics, including approximately 30% faster sequential write speeds and about 15% improved read latency. These features are designed to meet the needs of client SSDs and mobile devices that require high transfer speeds. For more information, visit the official Kioxia announcement: Kioxia News Release
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Kioxia has started shipping samples of its new 16TB M.2 SSDs featuring QLC NAND flash memory. These drives offer the highest capacity currently available in the M.2 form factor.
Kioxia, a leading manufacturer of flash memory solutions, has begun shipping samples of its groundbreaking 16TB M.2 SSDs. These drives feature an industry-leading storage capacity in the compact M.2 form factor, made possible by Kioxia's advanced QLC (Quad-Level Cell) NAND flash technology1.
The new 16TB M.2 SSDs from Kioxia offer the highest storage capacity currently available in this form factor. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the development of high-density storage solutions for consumer and enterprise applications2. The drives are expected to be particularly appealing to users who require vast amounts of storage in a small footprint, such as content creators, data centers, and gaming enthusiasts.
Kioxia's QLC NAND flash memory is the key to achieving such high capacities in the M.2 form factor. QLC technology allows for the storage of four bits of data per memory cell, effectively doubling the storage density compared to the more common TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND1. While QLC NAND typically has lower endurance and slower write speeds than TLC, it enables the creation of high-capacity drives at more affordable price points.
Kioxia is currently shipping samples of the 16TB M.2 SSDs to select customers and partners for testing and evaluation. Mass production and commercial availability of these drives are expected to follow in the coming months2. Pricing information has not yet been disclosed, but the cost per gigabyte is likely to be competitive with other high-capacity storage solutions on the market.
SK hynix has developed the PS1012 U.2, a high-capacity 61TB SSD designed for AI data centers, featuring PCIe Gen5 technology and plans for future 122TB and 244TB models.
3 Sources
Phison introduces the Pascari D205V, a 128TB PCIe 5.0 SSD designed for data centers, offering unprecedented storage capacity and performance for AI applications, entertainment, and research.
9 Sources
SK Hynix becomes the first to mass-produce 321-layer TLC NAND flash memory, surpassing Samsung in the race for high-capacity, efficient storage solutions tailored for AI applications.
2 Sources
Solidigm introduces the D5-P5336, a 122TB PCIe SSD designed for AI and data-intensive workloads, offering unprecedented storage capacity, efficiency, and endurance for data centers and edge computing.
5 Sources
Kioxia Corporation anticipates a significant increase in NAND flash memory demand, projecting a 2.7-fold growth by 2028. The company is expanding production capacity and adopting new technologies to meet the rising demand fueled by artificial intelligence advancements.
5 Sources
