According to Korea Times, Samsung has signed an extremely important agreement with Google, to provide the 3D NAND Memories to BigG's high-performance datacenters. To be defined, prices and quantities: “The agreement calls for Samsung to supply 3D NAND SSD products for Google datacenters. Samsung is in discussions with Google to end some minor differences such as guaranteed shipments and pricing”.

Google's choice to have Samsung as its sole partner to supply 3D NANDs could get Intel and Micron in troubles, since they developed this technology with almost one year delay. Google could use lot of Samsung's 3D NAND production, favouring the korean manufacturer in both economies of scale and filling its bank account. Even SanDisk, Toshiba and Hynix are trying to put a spoke in the wheel to Samsung, but the advantage accumulated so far (thanks to the start of a production considered risky), is now paying off. The same strategy is being applied to the 14nm US-based foundries, even at the cost of having a rather low yield.

Meanwhile Intel and Micron, partners in the development of NAND Flash, are trying to advertise their first 3D NAND as much as possible, stating it offers a density three times higher than a conventional NAND Flash (Moore's Law), as well as a lower latency: “According to Intel and Micron, the new design features improved latency and increased endurance over previous generations and new low-power sleep modes that cut power to inactive NAND die. Putting stock in the all-flash data center, Intel puts forth the tenet that 3D NAND Flash will extend Moore’s Law for flash storage and both improve density and lower cost of NAND flash”.

It will be interesting to see what these big names will do, since both Apple and Facebook are testing 3D NANDs for their products. Definitely, it will be a bloody price war.

Autore: Marino Berre
Esperto in: Videogame, notebook, schede grafiche

Si è occupato di informatica ed hardware sin dalla più tenera età ed è stato membro di diversi user group tecnici e redattore per importanti portali italiani.

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