Western Digital Announces Four-Bits-Per-Cell (X4) Technology on 3D NAND
July 24 2017 - 8:15AM
Business Wire
Further Enhances Industry Leadership in
Multi-Level Cell StorageBuilds on X4 Expertise in 2D NAND
Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC) today announced its
successful development of four bits per cell, X4, flash memory
architecture offering on 64-layer 3D NAND, BiCS3, technology.
Building on its pioneering innovation of X4 for 2D NAND technology
and past success in commercializing it, the company has now
developed X4 for 3D NAND by leveraging its deep vertical
integration capabilities. These include silicon wafer processing,
device engineering to provide sixteen distinct data levels in every
storage node, and system expertise for overall flash management.
BiCS3 X4 technology delivers an industry-leading storage capacity
of 768 gigabits on a single chip, a 50 percent increase from the
prior 512 gigabit chip that was enabled with the three bits per
cell (X3) architecture. Western Digital will showcase removable
products and solid-state drives built with BiCS3 X4 and systems
capabilities in August at the Flash Memory Summit in Santa Clara,
California.
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Western Digital announces its successful
development of four bits per cell, X4, flash memory architecture
offering on 64-layer 3D NAND, BiCS3, technology. (Photo: Business
Wire)
“The implementation of X4 architecture on BiCS3 is a significant
development for Western Digital as it demonstrates our continued
leadership in NAND flash technology, and it also enables us to
offer an expanded choice of storage solutions for our customers,”
said Dr. Siva Sivaram, executive vice president, Memory Technology,
Western Digital. “The most striking aspect in today’s announcement
is the use of innovative techniques in the X4 architecture that
allows our BiCS3 X4 to deliver performance attributes comparable to
those in BiCS3 X3. The narrowing of the performance gap between the
X4 and X3 architectures is an important and differentiating
capability for us, and it should help drive broader market
acceptance of X4 technology over the next several years.”
This latest achievement follows a nearly three-decade long
legacy of industry firsts in flash innovation, including the
industry’s multi-level cell (MLC) flash technologies using two bits
(X2) and three bits (X3) per cell.
The company expects to productize its 3D NAND X4 technology
across multiple end-use applications that can take advantage of the
higher capacity points supported by X4. Future generations of 3D
NAND technology, including the 96-layer BiCS4, are also expected to
feature X4 capabilities.
About Western Digital
Western Digital is an industry-leading provider of storage
technologies and solutions that enable people to create, leverage,
experience and preserve data. The company addresses ever-changing
market needs by providing a full portfolio of compelling,
high-quality storage solutions with customer-focused innovation,
high efficiency, flexibility and speed. Our products are marketed
under the HGST, SanDisk and WD brands to OEMs, distributors,
resellers, cloud infrastructure providers and consumers. Financial
and investor information is available on the company's Investor
Relations website at investor.wdc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including expectations for 3D NAND technology, including its
development, capabilities, performance improvements, applications,
capacities and customers as well as its participation in the Flash
Memory Summit that are based on current expectations. There are a
number of risks and uncertainties that may cause these
forward-looking statements to be inaccurate including, among
others: volatility in global economic conditions; business
conditions and growth in the storage ecosystem; impact of
competitive products and pricing; market acceptance and cost of
commodity materials and specialized product components; actions by
competitors; unexpected advances in competing technologies; our
development and introduction of products based on new technologies
and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with
acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; difficulties or delays in
manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the
company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), including the company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May
8, 2017, to which your attention is directed. You should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
Western Digital is a registered trademark or trademark of
Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and/or
other countries. All other marks are the property of their
respective owners. © 2017 Western Digital Corporation or its
affiliates. All rights reserved.
1 gigabit = 1,000,000,000 bits. Actual user storage less.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170724005390/en/
Western Digital Corp.Investor Relations:Bob Blair,
949.672.7834robert.blair@wdc.comorMedia:Steve Shattuck,
949.672.7817steve.shattuck@wdc.com
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