SanDisk ships first memory cards based on X4 tech
updated 10:30 am EDT, Tue October 13, 2009
SanDisk SDHC, Memory Stick use 4 bits per cell
SanDisk achieved a technical milestone today by shipping its first products based on four-bit-per-cell (4BPC) storage. Both standard SDHC and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards now use the much denser storage (versus existing 2BPC or 3BPC) to carry all their storage on 64-gigabit (8GB) chips; the move lets even a 16GB card use just two chips and should scale to allow for 64GB and larger-capacity cards in the future. It should also have implications for solid-state drives and others that depend on multi-level cell storage.
The initial cards are modest and come in just 8GB and 16GB capacities. SanDisk hasn't said if prices will change, but if the same they should result in prices of $45 and $89 for the two SDHC capacities and corresponding Memory Stick Pro Duo prices of $66 and $112. Both variants should already be headed to stores.
