Memory and data storage producer Micron have begun production and shipment of the world's first 232-layer NAND in Singapore, which marks the first time a NAND manufacturer has surpassed 200 layers. This opens the door for the world's first 200TB SSDs. For comparison, even the flashiest personal computers usually stop at 2TB of storage, and the current largest SSD in the world is Nimbus Data's 100TB ExaDrive.
Prior to the innovation, the company's NAND topped out at 176-layers. The new NAND is also 50% faster than Micron's 176-layer offering, at a top speed of 2.4 gigabytes per second, while featuring 100% higher write bandwidth and 75% higher read bandwidth. The company also says that the 232-layer NAND has 1 terabyte per die, the highest areal density in the industry, and has heightened capacity and energy efficiency over previous Micron NANDs.
[...] Micron says that the new NAND is in production at the company's Singapore factory, and will ship to customers in "component form." But in case you think this means you're going to upgrade your gaming PC's capacity by about 100 fold, think again. That 100TB SSD we mentioned earlier currently costs $40,000, and a 200TB one is going to be more expensive.
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Micron cuts costs as demand for 3D NAND and DRAM drops:
Micron this week announced drastic cost-cutting measures, which includes a 10% workforce reduction as well as further lowering of capital expenditures. As a result, the company will slowdown the ramp of new DRAM nodes, which will delay its introduction of 1γ (1-gamma) production nodes, that use extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography to 2025. Meanwhile, the company has begun sampling of 24Gb DDR5 memory devices for enterprise applications.
Micron is the only large DRAM maker that does not use EUV lithography with its latest fabrication processes. The memory producer plans to use EUV for several layers in its 1γ manufacturing technology, which was set to be introduced sometime in 2024. Because Micron has to reduce spending on new equipment in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 as well as reduce DRAM bit shipments in the coming quarters, it will have to slowdown ramp up of DRAMs on its 1β and 1γ fabrication technologies.
[...] Since the company expects meagre demand growth for both types of memory it produces — 10% in DRAM and around 20% in NAND — it needs to reduce its operating expenses too. As a result, it plans to reduce headcount by 10% throughout 2023 'through a combination of voluntary attrition and personnel reductions.'
Related: Micron's New 3D NAND Flash Could Usher in a Rapid New Generation of SSDs
(Score: 5, Interesting) by takyon on Thursday July 28 2022, @11:31AM (5 children)
There's no expectation of more than 8 TB in an M.2 2280 form factor with this NAND. 200 TB might be in a niche 3.5" drive, or one of those "ruler" SSDs.
The manufacturers seem to be focused on shrinking 1 Tb die size rather than increasing die capacity. So maybe 2-4 packages based on them start fitting where 1 used to be. Eventually, they will increase the capacity to the 1.33 Tb to 2 Tb range.
One sign of the times will be if we start to see 2-4 TB SD/microSD cards. 2 TiB being the limit for SDXC, 4 TiB and up requiring support for SDUC [wikipedia.org].
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday July 28 2022, @02:30PM (1 child)
I will be happy as long as these new drives have less vibration than old hard drives.
The server will be down for replacement of vacuum tubes, belts, worn parts and lubrication of gears and bearings.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 29 2022, @03:16PM
It depends on how much vibrations YOU cause. What are you watching again!?
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday July 28 2022, @07:21PM (1 child)
The site wouldn't load (Soylent Effect?). The subject of durability is notably absent. I'll assume they're not using SLC, if that's still a thing anymore
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Thursday July 28 2022, @08:49PM
It's TLC NAND. Thank your lucky stars it's not QLC.
https://www.anandtech.com/show/17509/microns-232-layer-nand-now-shipping [anandtech.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Redundant) by epitaxial on Thursday July 28 2022, @07:22PM
So who gives a fuck? I'll gladly take a 3.5" 200tb ssd.
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 28 2022, @12:33PM (1 child)
Finally, no more need to swap drives to view my entire porn collection!
(Score: 4, Funny) by stretch611 on Friday July 29 2022, @03:59AM
That just means that you need a larger pr0n collection
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Thursday July 28 2022, @03:50PM
From the lasagne dept.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.