Samsung Unveils 16Gigabit Flash Memory, Claims to replace HDD

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd has unveiled a high density NAND flash memory capable of storing 16Gigabit or the equivalent of 2GB of data.

Samsung said the new memory chip can store data equivalent to 200 years of a 40-page broadsheet daily newspaper, 8,000 digital music files or 32 hours of DVD-quality movie files on a single memory card.

The 16Gb NAND density was achieved with the use of 50-nanometer (nm) technology directly applicable to mass production processes and by using Samsung’s 3D-transistor architecture.

The new 16Gb memory creates the conditions for companies to develop and accelerate the use of NAND flash in mobile and portable digital applications, as an alternative to mini-HDDs (hard disk drives) and even HDDs for laptops.

The development of the 16Gb NAND flash comes at an opportune time as consumer electronic manufacturers are now considering the introduction of NAND-based storage to bolster performance and power consumption levels in new CE gadgets.