14 DAY TRIAL // The 25nm multi-level cell NAND flash memory chips that Intel and Micron proudly introduced some time ago seem to have gained traction fast. In fact, Intel has already been successful in creating a new solid state drive form factor that is even more compact than the 2.5-inch. Measuring only 1.8 inches, these drives will allow a much higher data density, as the 25nm NAND enables higher speeds and capacities, as well as reliability.
It is already logical that the Santa Clara, California-based chip maker would want to cross over to the newer technology as soon as possible. Fudzilla's latest report on the matter confirms this, stating that the company should start transitioning to the new manufacturing process by next year. Apparently, Intel will officially announce 160GB, 300GB and 600GB X25-M drives during the fourth quarter of the ongoing year and will make the first major 1.8-inch step in early 2011.
It is still not completely clear what markets these units will address. While the server and data-center segments are bound to benefit from the increase in data density (a smaller form factor means space for more drives and, thus, a higher maximum storage space), the drives are actually thin enough to be used in a variety of other scenarios. For instance, Fudzilla speculated that camcorders and Blu-ray devices, among other things, might draw benefits from the new invention.
As always, moving on to a new standard is bound to cause previous-generation technologies to fade into oblivion. In this case, 160GB 25nm-based drives will replace 80GB and 160GB units based on the 50nm and even the more recent 34nm process. Finally, 1.8-inch devices are expected to grow to a maximum of 300GB by Q1 2011, which is significantly more than what most existing SSDs can boast of reaching. What remains to be seen is if the read and write speeds will be on the same level as the storage capacity itself.