What Is 3D NAND and How Does It Work?
3D NAND technology is a newer development in SSD storage that promises increased capacity and reliability. But how does it work? Let’s take a closer look at 3D NAND and see how it stacks up against the older technologies.
What is 3D NAND?
3D NAND is rewriting the way that memory is stored. Using vertical stacking of numerous layers, high-density non-volatile memory can be achieved while using fewer input and output channels than other types of flash memory like 2D NAND.
This means it’s faster and more reliable to store data with 3D NAND, plus it’s also more cost-effective due to its higher density per square millimeter compared to 2D counterparts. With advantages such as lower power requirements, faster switching speeds, and a thicker die stack height enabling superior thermal efficiency, it’s no surprise that 3D NAND can now be found in most consumer electronics such as smartphones and digital cameras.
2D and 3D NAND Basics
Flash memory is a type of computer memory that uses a logic gate, also known as a binary input/output system. This means that the memory has a specific relationship between the input and output. This relationship is shown in a table called a truth table.
Toshiba first developed flash memory in the 1980s and used two logic gates: NOR and NAND. Both designs used a type of transistor called floating gate transistors.
Nowadays, NAND is the most common type of flash memory used in consumer electronics.
Flash memory is widely used because it does not require a constant power supply to store data. Unlike dynamic RAM (DRAM), which needs to be refreshed regularly to maintain data, flash memory can keep data even when the power is turned off. This makes it an excellent option for portable devices such as cameras, thumb drives, and solid-state drives.
If you want to know more about RAM and SSD, refer to the below articles
Flash memory devices, like dynamic RAM, are made with memory cells arranged in a grid pattern on a silicon chip. However, this design can make it difficult to increase storage capacity and improve performance.
The memory cells need to be smaller, or the chip needs to be bigger to store more data. Unfortunately, due to the technological constraints of making cells smaller, 2D flash devices are ultimately limited in capacity. Therefore, chips must be expanded, which can lead to slower performance, resulting in a maximum storage potential of 128 GB for current technology.
3D flash devices improve storage and performance by stacking memory cells on top of each other rather than just using a single layer. This allows more memory cells to be used in a smaller space, increasing the storage capacity. In addition, the shorter connections between the stacked cells improve the speed of the memory. Because of this technology, nowadays, SSDs come with 1TB or more capacity.
What Are the Benefits of 3D NAND?
There are several benefits to using 3D NAND technology in flash memory devices.
- Increased storage capacity: 3D NAND stacks memory cells vertically, allowing more memory cells to be used in a smaller area, resulting in increased storage capacity.
- Improved performance: The shorter connections between the stacked cells in 3D NAND result in faster memory performance.
- Higher endurance: The vertical design of 3D NAND improves the endurance of the memory cell, meaning that the memory cells can withstand more write cycles before wearing out.
- Lower power consumption: The 3D NAND design reduces the power needed to read and write data, which leads to lower power consumption and longer battery life in portable devices. Refer Does SSD Need Power? Truth About SSD Power Consumption
- Cost-effective: This technology allows for more memory storage in a smaller area, which reduces the cost of producing memory devices.
- Better scalability: 3D NAND technology allows adding more memory layers, enabling memory devices with larger storage capacities. Refer Highest Capacity NVME SSDs Available In 2023, Highest Capacity SATA SSDs Available in 2023
What Are the Disadvantages of 3D NAND?
Despite its advantages, the complex manufacturing process and higher cost of 3D NAND technology can be significant barriers.
The 3D NAND manufacturing process is a very complex operation when compared to the traditional 2D NAND. It involves building layers of memory cells into tall vertical structures that can stand hundreds of high levels.
This greatly increases data storage capacity and improves overall efficiency, although it comes with a cost. The additional complexity in the manufacturing process demands extra investment from companies with higher production costs than traditional 2D NAND.
This makes it essential for producers of 3D NAND to ensure that all components are correctly sourced and precisely manufactured to maximize the efficiency gains afforded by this newer technology.
How Reliable Is 3D NAND SSD?
3D NAND technology offers several advantages compared to 2D NAND, such as better performance, speed, power efficiency, endurance, and cost-effectiveness. However, it’s important to note that there are also 2D NAND architectures that stack multiple layers in a multi-level cell configuration, which can compete with 3D NAND in terms of performance and capacity.
Therefore, it’s crucial to evaluate the reliability and performance of a storage system on a case-by-case basis rather than making assumptions based on the components alone.
FAQ
Is 3D NAND Better Than TLC?
New 3D NAND technology has made memory cells capable of much greater endurance than before. A planar TLC memory cell can typically be written to no more than 500 or 1000 times, but 3D NAND has the potential to increase this endurance level to match that of traditional MLC flash.
This means that devices built with 3D NAND technology will offer not only larger storage capacity but also greater durability as well. This technology allows users to store data and recordings on their devices with greater confidence in the device’s lifespan.
Which is Better 3D NAND or V-NAND?
3D NAND or Vertical NAND (V-NAND) is a type of non-volatile flash memory that can maximize storage density by stacking the transistor cells vertically. This innovative approach uses three dimensions to store data instead of the traditional two, allowing for larger amounts of information in smaller spaces.
So both refer to the same technology!
Is V-NAND better than DRAM?
DRAM always outperforms NAND flash, particularly in terms of write operations. This is because NAND flash requires full block erasure before new data can be written, whereas DRAM can overwrite existing data at the byte level. However, DRAM is significantly more expensive and has a lower storage density than NAND flash.
This means more DRAM modules are required to achieve the same capacity as flash memory.
DRAM and NAND flash are two distinct technologies with their own purpose. DRAM functions as the main memory, while NAND Flash is a permanent storage device, meaning they cannot be compared on performance metrics alone.
