After several delays, Advanced Micro Devices AMD Tuesday said it has begun sampling its high-density NOR Flash memory device. Flash memory allows for color screens, multiple languages, short messaging, pictures, Internet access, and other advanced features in cell phones, PDAs, car PCs, telecommunications equipment, and TV set-top boxes.
AMD is the second-largest provider of flash memory, behind Intel , which calls its memory StrataFlash.
Based on its MirrorBit technology, the new 256Mb AMD Flash memory device hold twice as much data as standard Flash. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based semiconductor maker is sampling densities of 16, 32, 128 and 256Mb. The 64Mb device is currently in production.
“Demand for advanced features in a variety of consumer electronic products is really driving the need for innovative technology,” said AMD Memory Group vice president Bertrand Cambou.
The 64Mb device is currently in production and samples of the 256Mb, 128Mb, 32Mb, and 16Mb devices are available now, with volume production scheduled for the first quarter of 2003.
The new memory chips allows for asynchronous access times as fast as 70 nanoseconds (ns) for the 16Mb and 90ns for the other densities; page mode access times as fast as 25ns, a minimum of 20 years’ data retention at 125 degrees Celsius, which is important for portable devices; and a minimum of 100,000 write/erase cycles per sector.
The chips are available with a 64-Ball Fortified Ball Grid Array Package, a 63-Ball Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array Package, a 48-Pin Thin Small Outline Package and a 56-Pin Thin Small Outline Package.
The new Flash memory products are priced between $2.35 and $25.75 in 10,000 piece quantities