back to article Micron says it's first to QLC NAND with over 200 layers

Micron is now mass producing 232-layer QLC NAND, claiming it's the first memory manufacturer to break the 200-layer mark in QLC chips. Among the different types of NAND flash, QLC is generally seen as the value option. QLC, or quad-level cell, refers to NAND that has four bits per cell, as opposed to SLC, MLC, and TLC, which …

  1. Mike 137 Silver badge

    "Endurance is also a weak spot for QLC flash"

    There's also the crucial issue of data retention. All these multi-bit per cell devices use an essentially analogue data detection method -- QLC has to be able to discriminate 16 discrete voltage levels per cell. So the inevitable effects of charge leakage (albeit slow) will eventually be felt. The more 'bits per cell' the sooner that will happen because the differences between the bit levels are smaller, and 'error correction' can only do so much. Furthermore, the higher the device capacity the greater the chance that some leakage related data corruption will occur, simply because the target is bigger, so we're sacrificing reliability for convenience yet again.

    1. Pascal Monett Silver badge
      Windows

      Re: we're sacrificing reliability for convenience yet again

      Convenience will be the death of our civilization.

      Mark my words.

      And get off my lawn !

  2. Roj Blake Silver badge

    "Great for AI"

    Is what the marketing blurb will say.

    1. The Man Who Fell To Earth Silver badge
      Happy

      QLC Alzheimer's

      QLC Alzheimer's: It's not just for humans anymore.™

  3. Piro

    Qlc is rubbish

    Let's just go back to 3-bits per cell at worst, and forget qlc happened

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