Samsung Launches 32 GB 30-nm NAND Memory

By Marcus Yam
published

Samsung has announced that it is now shipping 32 GB moviNAND memory chips.

The new 32 GB chips are produced using 30-nm technology, allowing for the doubling of capacity of Samsung’s previous generation of moviNAND that is now being produced with 16Gb 40nm-class NAND chips.

Each 32 GB moviNAND device incorporates eight 30nm 32Gb NAND chips, a MMC controller and firmware. Expect to find the new memory in high-end cell phones and other portable electronics.

Samsung’s announcement instantly makes us think of a certain computer company that’s been rumored to be buying up lots of flash memory. A top-end 32 GB memory device would fall right in line with the rumors of the next iPhone having 32 GB onboard.

Samsung’s 30nm-class moviNAND is also available in 16GB, 8GB and 4GB densities, lending it perfectly to different tiers of Apple devices. This is all speculation at this point, of course, but it does seem to be very convenient timing for an iPhone announcement next month.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • joebob2000
    Gee, Apple IS the only company that thought to use 2, 4, 8, 16GB sizes in it's model lines. They are also the only ones innovative enough to say "hmm, it has 16GB now... how about we give the new one 32GB!" Yep, it must be them.
    Reply
  • Tindytim
    I always wondered why disk drives could get away with those even Base-10 numbers, then end up using incorrect counting methods. I'm glad we get a new, better start with SSDs.
    Reply
  • gm0n3y
    What makes you think those numbers are base 10? 2, 4, 8, 16, 32GB are NOT base 10. One GB = 2^30 bytes, so 32GB = 2^35 bytes. The only time I can think of that base 10 is used in computing is in networking (where, if I'm not mistaken, 1Mb = 1x10^6 bits).
    Reply
  • Tindytim
    gm0n3yWhat makes you think those numbers are base 10? 2, 4, 8, 16, 32GB are NOT base 10. One GB = 2^30 bytes, so 32GB = 2^35 bytes. The only time I can think of that base 10 is used in computing is in networking (where, if I'm not mistaken, 1Mb = 1x10^6 bits).
    Good god, can you not read? Disk Drives have been going at 250GB, 500GB, 80GB, etc. All of which are rounded to the nearest 10 in Base-10, yet so many use that archaic 10³ x 2¹⁰ as a MB.

    SSDs have been using Base 2 in their number conventions, staying away from the archaic improper MB usage improperly used by Hard Disk manufacturers for so many years. So there isn't a difference between what's on the package and what's reported by the OS.
    Reply
  • stlunatic
    hey guys!
    Reply
  • Niva
    Then again, doesn't Intel offer an 80 GB SSD?

    I honestly don't care about the guts, tell me the capacity and performance and I'm good to go. Stop arguing about silly cr@p.
    Reply
  • grieve
    You tell em Tindytim!
    Reply
  • benfea
    Will this mean SSDs with higher capacities?
    Reply
  • gm0n3y
    @TindyTim

    I though you were complaining about the GB part, not the number of GBs. Having the number of gigabytes off isn't that big of a deal, you end up losing or gaining a few here and there I guess.
    Reply
  • joebob2000
    NivaThen again, doesn't Intel offer an 80 GB SSD?I honestly don't care about the guts, tell me the capacity and performance and I'm good to go. Stop arguing about silly cr@p.
    40 16gbit cells, 80 gigabytes (in the 2^30 x 80 bits sense).
    Reply