Intel will launch consumer SSDs with QLC memory in the second half of this year dit
Intel will release ssds for consumers based on qlc-nand in the second half of this year. Perhaps it is the Intel 660p series in the m2 form factor, with variants from 512GB to 2TB.
Intel reports the arrival of consumer SSDs with qlc-nand in a presentation where AnandTech was present. The manufacturer itself does not provide any details about specific products, but it is probably the 660p SSDs, of which listings appeared at retailers at the beginning of this year. This makes them the successors of the current 600p models, which are equipped with tlc-nand.
In qlc-nand, each memory cell consists of four bits. Tlc-nand is currently used in many consumer SSDs, with three bits per cell. The qlc memory has a higher density and that allows lower prices and SSDs with higher capacities. This is offset by a lower speed and a shorter lifespan. Manufacturers can partly compensate for these disadvantages in the firmware and the controller, and by using extra memory chips for overprovisioning.
Intel and Micron recently introduced 2.5″ business SSDs from 2 to 8TB that use qlc-nand. These chips consist of 64 layers with a capacity of 1Tbit per die. In the new presentation, an Intel partner has According to AnandTech, it has also let go that work is being done on 2.5″ SSDs with a capacity of up to 20TB. It is probably a U2-nvme SSD with a thickness of 15mm. Intel is currently sending samples of QLC SSDs to some of its customers, and should be generally available in the second half of this year.
Optane dimms from 128GB to 512GB for servers
Intel broke the news about the ssds based on qlc-nand during a presentation about its new Optane dimms with 3D XPoint memory. They were previously announced, but now more details have been announced. Intel calls the dimms Optane DC Persistent Memory and there will be variants of 128, 256 and 512GB. The modules fit into ddr4 slots and operate over the ddr4 memory bus.
The Optane memory is intended to provide a cheaper alternative to ddr4 and is intended for servers that require very large amounts of memory. New CPUs are needed to use the dimms. The next generation of Xeon processors support the strips.
The first samples of Optane DC Persistent Memory are now being sent to customers and will be available for purchase later this year. In 2019, the Optane dimms should become widely available. To help developers get used to using the technology, they can remotely access systems with the dimms for testing and software development.
Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory Module