China's YMTC partners with local SSD brands to market drives with 232-layer 3D NAND memory.
China’s YMTC has teamed up with local solid-state drive (SSD) brands and flash controller developers to create a range of consumer-grade SSDs using its new 232-layer 3D NAND memory. The state-owned NAND manufacturer is already seeing strong sales of its X3-9070 memory, which is used in Tengyn drives, and the latest news suggests it is now capitalising on oversupply by selling its advanced 3D NAND at a discount.
The 232-layer 3D NAND isn’t available to international SSD makers but is usable in China, where YMTC can still sell to local firms. This means the company isn’t able to sell the devices to multinational drive suppliers, but it can still sell within China.
YMTC has partnered with Maxio Technology, a specialist SSD platform designer, to develop SSD platforms using the new NAND. This isn’t a huge surprise as the two firms have a relationship dating back to a January partnership to develop a 32-layer 3D NAND controller, so their collaboration on a 232-layer platform is a logical next step.
The NAND manufacturer has also partnered with other China-based SSD controller firms, although we’re unable to name them at this time. Regardless, it looks like YMTC is hoping to build a range of drives using its advanced 3D NAND, which will undoubtedly boost its market share.
Tengyn, a China-based SSD supplier, is already selling drives featuring YMTC’s X3-9070 memory and is likely to continue doing so, which has already led to a drop in pricing due to oversupply. Now that YMTC has access to 232-layer 3D NAND, we could see similar trends as it ramps up production.
It’s unclear if YMTC is selling its 232-layer 3D NAND at a loss in China, but it’s likely using the flash memory to keep its fabs busy as it faces difficulties selling to other markets. Rumours suggest the state-owned company is the subject of a U.S. government blacklist, which means international firms are wary of using its advanced 3D NAND memory.
Nevertheless, YMTC has been able to produce 232-layer 3D TLC NAND, using Xtacking 3.0 architecture. The memory offers a 15.47Gb/mm2 areal density and a 2400 MT/s interface, and is designed to offer high-performance client and server SSDs.
PCIe Gen5 x4 drives are theoretically capable of being built using YMTC’s 232-layer 3D NAND memory, which would offer over 12 GB/s throughput, but such drives are rare. Still, it’s likely YMTC is selling the devices to local Chinese SSD makers at a competitive price since it can’t sell the devices to international firms.
Check out everything we know about 3D NAND: The NAND expert’s guide to 3D NAND.
