Intel and Micron Join Forces

Intel and Micron announced a 20nm build process, and also an upgraded controller interface called ONFi 3, which increases the bandwidth from 166MT/s all the way to 333MT/s.

Earlier this year, Intel and Micron’s joint NAND manufacturing venture (IMFT) announced it had produced 64Gb (8GB) MLC NAND on a 20nm process. Most IMFT NAND that’s used in SSDs are built using a 25nm process – the move to 20nm reduces die size and in turn reduces cost over time. A single 8GB 2-bit-per-cell MLC NAND die built on IMFT’s 25nm process measures in at 167mm2, while the same capacity on IMFT’s 20nm process is 118mm2. Early on in any new process wafers are more expensive, but over time NAND costs should go down as they are more a function of die size than process technology.

Along with this, prices are steadily dropping for SSD drives, approaching the 1$/GB range, and it can only get better. Check out the full story here.