Micron First to Production of 200+ Layer QLC NAND in Client and Data Center

Rhea-AI Summary

Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) leads in NAND technology with the production of 232-layer QLC NAND, offering superior performance in client and data center storage. The Micron 2500 SSD outperforms competitors with industry-leading bit-density, NAND I/O speeds, read and programming performance. It is the first client SSD to integrate 200+ layer QLC NAND, delivering exceptional user experience and setting new standards in PC applications. The SSD boasts up to 7.1 GB/s sequential read speeds, outperforming TLC and QLC-based SSDs in the value segment. Micron's innovation in QLC NAND ensures high endurance and performance across different capacities and form factors.

Positive

• Micron leads in NAND technology with the production of 232-layer QLC NAND.
• The Micron 2500 SSD offers superior performance in client and data center storage.
• Industry-leading bit-density, NAND I/O speeds, read, and programming performance set Micron apart from competitors.
• The Micron 2500 SSD is the first client SSD to integrate 200+ layer QLC NAND, providing exceptional user experience.
• The SSD boasts up to 7.1 GB/s sequential read speeds, outperforming competitors in the value segment.
• Micron's QLC NAND innovation ensures high endurance and performance across different capacities and form factors.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Tech Industry Analyst

Micron's announcement of the 232-layer QLC NAND marks a pivotal leap in NAND flash technology. By increasing the layer count, Micron significantly boosts bit-density, allowing for more storage capacity in a smaller area. For investors, this technological edge could translate into a competitive advantage in the solid-state drive (SSD) market, particularly as storage demands continue to surge in various sectors. The emphasized performance improvements over the previous generation, such as a 31%> increase in programming performance, suggest that Micron is not only focused on capacity but also on the efficiency and speed of data processing. This dual focus could broaden the range of application for their NAND technology from consumer electronics to more demanding enterprise solutions.

Market Research Analyst

Considering Micron's claim of a 50%> improvement in NAND I/O speeds and up to a 28%> more compact design than competitors, the Micron 2500 SSD is positioned to capture significant market share. Investors should note the potential ripple effect on the supply chain and Micron's ability to meet market demands for higher performance and efficiency. As the tech landscape evolves towards faster and more reliable storage options, Micron's innovation might incentivize top OEMs and data centers to upgrade, thus driving sales. However, the actual market adoption and the SSD's long-term performance in real-world scenarios will be critical in evaluating Micron's market position and the consequent financial implications.

Financial Analyst

Micron's financial future may be buoyed by the incorporation of the 232-layer QLC NAND into their SSDs. This technological leap, first in its class to integrate 200+ layer QLC NAND, provides a distinct selling point. Furthermore, superior benchmarking performances over competitors suggest that Micron could command a price premium, enhancing profit margins. Yet, investors should exercise caution and monitor the cost implications of transitioning to this new technology and the market's rate of adoption. Given the three-year warranty and the robust write endurance specification, the Micron 2500 SSD seems to be a product aligned with consumer demands for longevity and reliability, which could favor long-term brand loyalty and recurring revenue streams.

Micron’s 2500 SSD outperforms rivals with cutting-edge QLC NAND

BOISE, Idaho, April 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), today demonstrated its continued NAND technology leadership by announcing that its 232-layer QLC NAND is now in mass production and shipping in select Crucial^® SSDs, in volume production to enterprise storage customers and sampling to OEM PC manufacturers in the Micron 2500 NMVe^TM SSD.

Micron 232-layer QLC NAND delivers unparalleled performance for use cases across mobile, client, edge and data center storage by leveraging these important capabilities:

• Industry-leading bit-density, up to 28% more compact than leading competitors'¹ latest products
• Industry-leading NAND I/O speeds of 2400 MT/s,¹ a 50% improvement over the prior generation²
• 24% better read performance over the prior generation²
• 31% better programming performance over the prior generation²

“Micron’s 232-layer QLC NAND is a key enabler of our high-capacity DirectFlash^® Module,” said Bill Cerreta, general manager of Hyperscale at Pure Storage^®. “Thanks to Micron's NAND innovation, Pure Storage can take one more step on its quest to replace all HDDs in the data center by 2028.”

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_{¹ Leading competitors are defined as SK Hynix, Solidigm, Kioxia, WD and Samsung.
² Comparisons are based on Micron 232-layer QLC NAND vs. previous Micron 176-layer QLC NAND generation.} 

Micron 2500 Client SSD
The Micron 2500 raises the bar for everyday computing with its best-in-class performance to significantly enhance the PC user experience. For the second generation in a row, Micron is first to ship QLC-based client NVMe SSDs with the highest NAND layer count. The Micron 2500 SSD stands alone as the world's first client SSD to integrate 200+ layer QLC NAND.

“We are impressed with the capabilities of the Micron 2500 SSD, so we are excited to qualify it for our mainstream platform storage options. With its leadership user experience, it is the perfect match for our high-performance AMD Ryzen™ processors,” said Joe Macri, senior vice president and corporate fellow at AMD.

The 2500 SSD enables a user experience that surpasses competitive TLC- and QLC-based SSDs while also setting a new storage standard for productivity in daily PC applications and computing tasks. It has demonstrated superior PCMark^® 10 experience benchmark results, outperforming the average scores of QLC and TLC competitors in the value SSD segment by up to 45%.³

"Micron continues its leadership and innovation in the client SSD market as the industry shifts to QLC-based storage," said Prasad Alluri, vice president and general manager of Micron's Client Storage Group. "We anticipate that the 2500 SSD will further accelerate QLC adoption in PCs as it delivers a world-class user experience and value proposition."

“By integrating the Micron 2500 QLC SSD into our PCs, we’re ensuring a superior user experience. Micron’s innovations in QLC NAND mean our customers enjoy the benefits of reliable storage without compromise,” said Y.C. Chen, associate vice president of ASUS Group. “Additionally, the compact form factor and 2TB density allow us to create class-leading thin and light devices.”

The Micron 2500 SSD is breaking new ground as the world’s first QLC SSD that approaches PCIe^® Gen 4 theoretical saturation performance, boasting up to 7.1 GB/s sequential read speeds. It outperforms TLC-based NAND and QLC-based NAND SSDs in the value segment, with superior performance to competitor offerings: ⁴

Micron 2500 SSD performance
Performance Metric	Versus TLC Client SSDs	Versus QLC Client SSDs
Sequential read	Up to 48% better	Up to 72% better
Sequential write	Up to 32% better	Up to 97% better
Random read	Up to 38% better	Up to 131% better
Random write	Up to 25% better	Up to 85% better

Enhancing the performance of the Micron 2500 SSD is its accelerated caching feature which ensures the fastest read and write performance under most applications. The Micron 232-layer QLC NAND enables a robust SSD write endurance specification. Even the smallest capacity Micron 2500 512GB SSD has enough endurance to support thirteen 4K movie downloads per day, every day for three years.⁵

The Micron 2500 SSD is available in 22 x 30mm, 22 x 42mm and 22 x 80mm form factors, in 512GB up to 2TB capacities. Notably, it features a compact 2TB 22 x 30mm option that is perfect for handheld gaming devices. The single-sided design of these SSDs provides greater flexibility for OEMs to integrate into systems that range from ultra-thin devices to workstations. For more information, visit: www.micron.com/2500.

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_{³ PCMark 10 testing in Micron labs using the Full System Drive Benchmark. For details see: https://benchmarks.ul.com/pcmark10. Competitive value SSDs tested as noted in footnote 1.
⁴ Performance comparisons are based on publicly available data sheet information per footnote 1.
⁵ Estimated 14GB per 2-hour 4K movie. The Micron 2500 (512GB) is rated for 200TB TBW (total bytes written), which provides enough endurance for a daily average of over 182 GB per day of data written over its 3-year warranty. The 1TB and 2TB capacities have higher TBW ratings respectively.}

Resources

• Micron 2500 SSD product webpage
• QLC NAND flash memory webpage
• Micron 2500 product brief
• Micron 2500 SSD launch blog
• Image gallery
  

About Micron Technology, Inc.
We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron^® and Crucial^® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence and 5G applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.

© 2024 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information, products, and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. Micron, the Micron logo, and all other Micron trademarks are the property of Micron Technology, Inc. ASUS is a trademark of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. AMD and Ryzen are the trademarks of Advanced Miron Devices, Inc., Pure Storage is the trademark of Pure Storage, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Use of third-party trademarks does not imply endorsement, sponsorship by or affiliation with the owners of these marks.

FAQ

What is the significance of Micron's 232-layer QLC NAND production?

Micron leads in NAND technology with the production of 232-layer QLC NAND, offering superior performance in client and data center storage.

What sets the Micron 2500 SSD apart from competitors?

The Micron 2500 SSD outperforms competitors with industry-leading bit-density, NAND I/O speeds, read, and programming performance.

What makes the Micron 2500 SSD unique in the market?

The Micron 2500 SSD is the first client SSD to integrate 200+ layer QLC NAND, delivering exceptional user experience and setting new standards in PC applications.

How does the Micron 2500 SSD perform compared to other SSDs in the value segment?

The Micron 2500 SSD boasts up to 7.1 GB/s sequential read speeds, outperforming TLC and QLC-based SSDs in the value segment.

What is the endurance and performance of Micron's QLC NAND across different capacities and form factors?

Micron's QLC NAND innovation ensures high endurance and performance across different capacities and form factors.