YMTC 3D NAND Flash Memory Chips-4
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YMTC is China’s first mass producer of 3D NAND Flash Memory Chips, to make domestic SSDs

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It appears that Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd. (YMTC) is helping push China’s self-sufficiency, and its domestic market. 3D Xtacking NAND devices are being manufactured from Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd. (YMTC) in Wuhan, China. With this move, YMTC has become China’s first mass-producer of 3D NAND flash memory chips.

The chipmaker has recently launched the two new SSDs, the PC005 and the SC001, under the ZHITAI sub-brand. These SSDs use 64-layer 3D NAND chips that are manufactured with the Xtacking 3D NAND technology. This 64L 3D NAND flash device represents the first major competitive semiconductor product to come out of China’s state-backed investment in cutting-edge memory chips. There is no question that this will disrupt the 52?billion dollar NAND memory market, and also its respective market leaders such as Samsung, Kioxia, Western Digital, Micron, Intel, and SK hynix.

YMTC’s 64L 3D NAND device is a disruptor not only because it is offered by a significant new entrant, but because of its Xtacking architecture. YMTC is already on track for 128-layer QLC (quad-level cell) 3D NAND offerings that max out at 1.6 Gbps. This was revealed back in April. Given YMTC’s recent collaboration with ‘Phison’, we can assume that the drives are using a Phison controller, though it can be a custom controller from ‘Silicon Motion’ as well.

YMTC currently offers two SSD models, the PC005 and SC001 active, both having capacities of 256GB, 512GB and 1TB, respectively. The PC005 has a limited five-year warranty, whereas the SC001 has a shorter three-year warranty given by the company. The PC005 Active is a standard M.2 2280 model that makes use of the PCIe 3.0 x4 interface. The sequential read and write speeds have been rated for 3,500 MBps and 2,900 MBps, respectively.

The PC005 Active SSD Model offers random performance up to 340,000 IOPS reads and 360,000 IOPS writes. Endurance hovers between 200 TBW and 640 TBW. The SC001 Active SSD, on the other hand, is available in both M.2 2280 and 2.5-inch formats. But this drive will be limited to SATA III interface speeds nonetheless. YMTC claims sequential read and write speeds up to 520 MBps and 510 MBps, respectively, and random read and write speeds up to 80,000 and 70,000 IOPS (for all capacity models). The endurance varies from 170 TBW to 680 TBW.

These drives from YMTC may offer similar performance to other drives currently in the market, such as those from Samsung. For an example, the PC005 Active 1TB model’s sequential numbers surpass the Samsung 970 Evo 1TB’s rating. Though, the Samsung drive is way ahead than the PC005 in random performance. However, the PC005 Active 1TB’s endurance is rated for 640 TBW, which is 40 TBW higher than the Samsung 970 Evo 1TB model.

We can compare the SC001 Active 1TB’s sequential performance with Samsung 860 Evo 1TB SSD’s rated figure. Though, in random performance, Samsung is again ahead. But the endurance rating of the SC001 Active 1TB is 680 TBW, while the Samsung 860 Evo 1TB only has 600 TBW rating.

Coming to the technology, analysis of YMTC 3D 64L Xtacking TLC NAND devices, found in the UNIC Memory Secure S1-C 64 GB USB, shows 73 gates in total for a vertical NAND string with nine vertical channel (VC) holes including one dummy hole between common source line contacts. It is likely that 4 select gates (1 GST and 3 SSTs) and 5 dummy gates are also used.

Due to Xtacking architecture in which periphery circuits and memory cell operations are processed on a separate wafer, the array efficiency and memory bit density are considerably higher than conventional 3D NAND such as Samsung 64L V-NAND and KIOXIA/WD 64L BiCS NAND. For example, YMTC 64L 256 Gb die bit density is 4.41 Gb/mm2 which is higher than Samsung 64L 256 Gb die (3.42 Gb/mm2), and comparable to Micron/Intel 64L CuA FG 256 Gb TLC die (4.40 Gb/mm2) The NAND memory array efficiency on the die for YMTC 64L shows more than 90 %.

Since YMTC Xtacking uses Wafer-to-Wafer bonding technology, the NAND array is upside-down on periphery circuits. The process integration consists as (1) Metal 1 through Metal 4 for periphery circuits on a wafer, (2) NAND array with a source plate (SP) and Metal 1’ through Metal 3’ on a separate wafer, (3) Wafer-to-Wafer bonding to connect M4 and Metal 3’, (4) Through SP Via and Metal 5. Here, Metal 1’ is for BL.

NAND array consists of the same number of total gates compared to KIOXIA/WDC BiCS 64L 3D NAND. Bit-line half pitch for the device is 20 nm, which means they use a double patterning technology (DPT) likely with self-aligned double patterning (SADP). They do not use any type of metal straps to connect bit lines with NAND channels, which is different from Samsung’s 64L V-NAND array structure. Top select gate (TSG) cut process is also used on array.

The Chinese online retailer JD.com is currently selling the PC005 Active 256GB and 512GB models for around $54 and $77. 1TB pricing is not listed yet. SC001 Active 256GB, 512GB and 1TB models are listed for $42, $67 and $123, respectively.  These SSD models come in 2.5-inch form factor.

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Thanks PC Watch

62 thoughts on “YMTC is China’s first mass producer of 3D NAND Flash Memory Chips, to make domestic SSDs”

  1. China is on the rise again ! I think they want to pretty much cut off ties with the US and other countries, and go for in-house production.

    We cant ignore Trump’s sanctions and bans impose on Chinese firms as well, lol

    Reply

      1. it is because the US is finally scared of someone in the world stage. did you know the US also put tariffs in japan back then when japan was booming?

        Reply

          2. that puts tariffs and blocks whole economies? only US afaik, no other country has that much power in the world yet sadly

          3. Tariffs and blocks also make or break ideologies contrary to the US ruling class. All the whining about Venezuela socialism, but not many know US role in creating crisis and failed states.

    2. I’m not a big supporter of Trump but we’ve (USA) been running a huge trade deficit with China in the hundred of billions of dollars for years. This can’t go on forever.

      Reply

      1. that argument is so stupid. they sell stuff you need so you just buy it from them. its called free market. using arbitrary measures with each country thinking that you either sell or buy too much from them doesnt make sense. its not a deficit because the US sells a lot when it comes to services to other countries as well
        its also private companies that all of the buying and they arent buying in china because they like to, they do it because its the best for them, so dont go tell me theyre running a “deficit” and youre going to help them with tariffs lol

        Reply

        1. They steal our tech then sell it back to us for cheaper because we did the expensive R&D for them. F*k them never buying anything Chinese especially not a something that stores my information.

          Reply

          1. the US steals tech from everyone.. they use the NSA to spy even on the germans lol. also, what tech did the chinese steal? huawei is ahead in most tech related stuff

          2. Don’t forget Israel which is the one pulling the US strings on foreign policy. Anyone concerned about privacy, spying or theft only when it comes from China is brainwashed or bad actor.

        2. I don’t think you understand what a trade deficit is.Products made in China are cheaper than products made in the USA because the Chinese get paid less and the factories in China don’t have to contend with expensive environmental controls like western nations. They pump out pollution into the environment by the millions of tons.

          They have also a history of exporting dangerous products to western countries like tires that come apart because they bypass a simple and cheap safety feature, toys for tots having lead paint, toxic food products; toxic pet food that killed thousands of pets in western nations and even toxic toothpaste.

          Here is what the trade deficit with China looks like:

          https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/27ce867801174a8bac3efa85394ecbbb2ad6991fb5a1541ee4b5731d062ef103.png

          So we just keep printing up money to cover the trade deficit and Federal Debt. Normally this would be bad for our economy but because the USD is the World’s Reserve Currency we can get away with it……for now.

          Reply

          1. what makes money today is consumers, not manufacturing, you really want to bring back factories that make really cheap stuff to the US? i mean whats the plan? i doubt anyone is willing to go back to those monotonous low paying jobs.

            if you dont buy that stuff from china youll buy it from vietnam bangladesh or what have you

            the “pollution” they pump is actually way lower per capita than the US, at least china has the excuse of being poor and being the world factory, not sure what excuse the US has. if those toys are dangerous or whatnot, thats up to the private business importing and selling those toys to check

          2. I want western countries to stop buying junk and buy quality items made in the west. Sure they cost more but at least they are not junk.

            As far as polluting the environment this is a couple of pics about what life is like for Chinese in some of the larger cities with no environment controls:

            https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fa77ce5e603306ee9ee42d052fde8b5a8a7a527f2d8638a9a8d66ac0df97bcd2.jpg

            https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/784d2768bfba5104b27265a4112302819a9d1735dbce843e616facf37d32cf13.jpg

          3. the chinese dont just make “junk”, they make iphones, xboxes, tons of advanced computer parts, smart phones etc

            also seriously? your “evidence” of pollution is some random pics youve found? do some more reading please, or do you see lots of factories in those pictures? oh wait theres none. maybe the pollution its due to the fact theyre surrounded by mountains and theres no wind? you know like santiago de chile and many other cities in the world with no factories but crappy air conditions

            https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/CO2_emissions_per_capita%2C_2017_%28Our_World_in_Data%29.svg

            so again, please do some more reading and get better “sources” than some random pictures youve found on the web

          4. Agreed, their arguments is just a stale form of reactionary conservative bs. Ironic since conservative libertarians where at the forefront of outsourcing western industries to China, but instead of getting mad at their own ruling class they prefer to do these clownish arguments, it’s kind of sad since they only pain themselves as a target for their own ruling class for being racist.

          1. really? did you check your PC parts? or how about all the parts from your phone, where do you think theyre from?

          3. yea i bet you did, checked every single small component did you? you know the thousands of em. sure you did 😉

        4. I’m not really a fan of “free markets” at the expense of our own nation, but blaming only China is disingenuous and ultimately, dumb. Your own companies and politicians did it.

          Reply

  8. Great news, China will win and we can finally ditch US&Puppets technology.
    Glad i born to see USA falling into oblivion.

    Reply

    1. Lmao, “cream of anarchy”. ??? WTF man? I’m a very visual person, what did I just see?. Thanks for the laughter.

      Reply

      1. More variety of hardware is a good thing, depending forever on western commodities that can turn against you at any moment is a fragile proposition that many people learn the hard way.

        Reply

    4. No such thing as anarchy in China, stop projecting and also stop daydreaming about a past that have almost zero chance of coming back.

      Reply

        1. I just saw the thumbnail, looks like some degenerate rap music, coming from someone associating China authority with anarchy made me lol alright.

          Reply

    1. Are the red floral like stuff cores? Oh my if that’s the case, that’s a lot of cores. Dr. William gates Will Be Proud.

      Reply

          3. I actually did, since I attend religious services at a Tibetan Buddhist temple.
            Anyway, I suggest you learn about the massacres and other atrocities committed by the Chinese after they “liberated” Tibet.

    1. The Chinese companies have been caught numerous times selling fake hardware on Newegg. They know what they are doing and it’s wrong but they do it anyway and then when you find out it’s not what they advertised they want you to pay the shipping back to China which is very expensive.

      Reply

  11. To say nothing of communist China, technological theft, counterfeiting, etc. etc. I wouldn’t trust one of these to store the least of important items on my computer. “Chinese quality” is the problem.

    Call me whatever stupid label you may want, but the fact is, Chinese led manufacturing and quality standards, are gutter trash. I don’t care what I look like in saying that, I just call ’em as I see ’em.

    Reply

    1. “I don’t care what I look like in saying that”

      Yeah you don’t care if you look stupid, if you hate China manufacturing, hate your own ruling class for outsourcing their industries for that cheap labor and never ending quest of “making line go up”.

      Reply

  12. Here’s me hoping that China will liberate Taiwan from neoliberalism and ghey marriage.

    “Plenty of instances from before that have been astoundingly bad.”

    Examples?

    Reply

  13. You spend half the day hating on US corporations/gov, and the other half rooting for them to beat/ban Chinese corps…

    Welcome to the world of schizo politics!!

    Reply

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