Western Digital introduced the world’s highest capacity memory die, the BiCS8 2Tb QCL, in a webcast for investors titled “The New Era of NAND.” These are full 2TB capacity flash memories for data center needs. Rumor has it that these new chips could usher in the 100TB SSD era. Here are the details…
Huge move from Western Digital: 2TB flash memories special for data centers were introduced
These flash memories, developed in collaboration with Western Digital and Kioxia, use the eighth generation BiC (BICS8) technology, announced in 2023. BiCS8 technology offers 50 percent better memory density than the previous generation. Moreover, it comes with 12 percent better layer density, 30 percent better program bandwidth, and 21 percent better read latency. It’s not limited to this.
The IO speed of these chips is 50 percent higher than their same-generation competitors. In short, these flash memories are performance monsters. To demonstrate the small size of these chips offered to investors, Western Digital introduced a fingertip-sized die. And this tiny giant has a storage capacity of exactly 2 trillion bits.
1200 TB SSD becomes reality! But the price will be annoying
When will Pure Storage 1200 TB SSD be released? Next-generation models based on DFM design instead of DRAM may soon become a reality.
This reveals what technology leadership looks like. These new flash memories could usher in a new era of 100TB SSDs and enable faster, larger, and more energy-efficient SSDs. This new flash memory technology could also lower the cost of high-capacity SSDs. How Does?
For example, a 256GB 3D QLC NAND device can enable manufacturers to produce a 1TB SSD using only four memory ICs, or a 2TB SSD with eight devices. A 16-die package can provide up to 4TB of storage in a single chip package. So, large capacity SSDs will now be more accessible.
More details will be revealed when WD officially announces these new 2TB QLC NAND chips. However, we already know that these chips will create a big change in data center solutions. What do you think about this revolutionary development? How will new generation SSDs affect data centers? Don’t forget to share your opinions in the comments section below!