Western Digital And SanDisk Launched Their Newest 64-Layer 3D NAND Technology

Ralphy Bonn SimMay 31, 2017 03:36 PM EDT

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Western Digital (WD) and its subsidiary SanDisk recently launched two new solid state drives that boast of 3D NAND technology. It allows the company to offer more storage space at less cost.

According to Anand Tech, the two SSDs are called WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD and SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD. These two are the first to boast 64-layer 3D NAND technology, where prices of both SSDs start at $99.99 and have a three-year warranty.

There are other existing 3D NAND SSDs that includes Samsung 850 Evo, Samsung 850 Pro, and Crucial MX300 but they all use 32-layer 3D NAND, unlike WD's 64-layer SSDs. Western Digital (WD) claims that its new SSDS are the first to be built with a 64-layer 3D NAND that allows it to reduce costs even further.

For a clearer view, 3D NAND technology stacks up flash memory cells in multiple layers to allow more cells on the same number of wafer bits. This density allows for more storage space at a reduced cost. Both WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD and SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD sports an identical storage speed and spaces.

The WD Blue 3D and SanDisk Ultra 3D SSDs are both offered in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage denomination. These drivers are rated to deliver up to 560MBps of sequential read speeds, and 520MBps of sequential write speeds respectively.

According to Hot Hardware, the only difference between the two drives is that the WD Blue is designed for system builders and general computing, while the SanDisk Ultra 3D SSD is meant for gamers and creative professionals. While there is no tangible timeline announced, WD says to expect the shipping to begin sometime in the third quarter this year.

Delivering 64-layer 3D NAND-based SSDs into the PC segment marks a critical step for the ongoing conversion to this new technology, as well as offers long-term benefits for every customer. Strong brands such as Western Digital (WD) and SanDisk will appeal to a very broad footprint of the computing population that is seeking the benefits of today's newest innovations.