Kioxia Releases Second-Generation XL-FLASH Storage-Class Memory Solutio
Kioxia announced the launch of its second-generation XL-FLASH storage-class memory solution. This is a storage class memory (SCM) solution based on its BiCS FLASH 3D flash technology, which can effectively reduce costs and provide high-performance and low latency products.
Storage Class Memory (SCM) is the industry’s unified name for a new storage medium between flash memory and memory. The familiar Optane 3D-XPoint belongs to SCM. Since many SCMs have the characteristics of low latency, high read and write rates, and non-volatile memory, several major flash memory manufacturers have developed their own SCM technologies. In addition to Micron and Intel’s 3D-XPoint, there is also Samsung’s Z-NAND, which is more of an improved version of the existing NAND.
Kioxia said the second-generation XL-FLASH storage-class memory solution is designed to bring higher performance and lower costs to data centers, enterprise servers, and storage systems. Looking to the future, this technology may also be applied to CXL (Compute Express Link) products. At present, Samsung and SK Hynix have launched CXL memory, both based on DDR5 DRAM.
The second generation of XL-FLASH reduces cost by adding a new multi-level cell function (MLC) that stores two bits of data per cell in addition to using existing SLC flash memory. Previously, the first generation of products used 128Gb flash memory chips, and the second generation increased to 256Gb, and the data throughput was also increased. It is also possible to stack two, four, or eight layers of chips in the same package.
Kioxia said it will showcase its second-generation XL-FLASH storage-class memory solution in a keynote speech at the Flash Memory Summit (FMS) in early August this year. In addition, related samples are scheduled to be shipped in November this year, and mass production is expected to begin in 2023.
