Key Takeaways
1. Kioxia has started sending out evaluation samples of UFS 5.0 embedded flash memory in 512 GB and 1 TB sizes.
2. UFS 5.0 features High-Speed Gear 6 (HS-GEAR6) mode for faster data transfer between storage and the host processor.
3. The new dual-lane MIPI M-PHY 6.0 system allows data signals up to 46.6 Gbps, achieving effective read/write speeds of 10.8 GB/s.
4. The UFS 5.0 memory is designed for high-demand applications, benefiting mobile gamers and content creators with AI tasks and video processing.
5. Evaluation samples were shipped on February 24, with 1TB versions available in March, but specifications may differ from final consumer products.
Just a little while ago, we shared news about UFS 5.0 storage possibly matching the speed of PCIe 5.0 SSDs, and there were talks about the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 potentially using UFS 5.0 flash storage. Yet, most of that was just speculation. Now, Kioxia has unexpectedly revealed that they have started sending out evaluation samples of UFS 5.0 embedded flash memory, available in 512 GB and 1 TB sizes.
Exciting New Features
The latest memory modules are currently being standardized by JEDEC, and they come with a feature called High-Speed Gear 6 or HS-GEAR6 mode. This is a cool new interface protocol that allows for significantly faster data transfer speeds between the storage and the host processor.
Meeting Demands
While the previous UFS 4.0 standard worked fine for basic tasks like running apps and syncing in the background, the increasing data demands of smartphone hardware, especially in devices featuring advanced AI models like the iPhone 15, Google Pixel, or Samsung Galaxy S series, require a better solution to cope with bandwidth issues.
Kioxia’s UFS 5.0 storage addresses this problem with its dual-lane MIPI M-PHY 6.0 system, capable of delivering data signals up to 46.6 Gbps for each lane. With two lanes in operation, the flash memory achieves an impressive effective read/write performance of 10.8 GB/s – that’s a major performance improvement.
Designed for Heavy Use
The new protocol is created to work seamlessly with Kioxia’s proprietary 8th-generation BiCS FLASH controller, providing additional capacity when handling large amounts of data. This could be particularly beneficial for systems that demand significant bandwidth, such as Jetson Thor and Jetson Orin-powered devices, which are aimed at local AI generation or processing large, high-resolution video files in real time.
Kioxia’s UFS 5.0 memory package has a compact design, measuring just 7.5 x 13 mm, yet it incorporates a new protocol to meet the increased bandwidth needs. This should allow mobile gamers and content creators the ability to run complex AI tasks directly on their smartphones without issues.
Kioxia’s evaluation samples of the 512GB UFS 5.0 began shipping on February 24, while the 1TB versions are set to be available starting March, though the company has not disclosed pricing for the final consumer products.
It’s important to note that Kioxia states these samples are solely for “functional evaluation only,” and that “the specifications of the samples will differ from commercial products.”
Source:
Link