SanDisk has announced its plans for upcoming UltraQLC-based 1PB solid-state drives (SSDs), setting the stage for a significant leap in storage capacity. The UltraQLC platform, as detailed by Sandisk, integrates their advanced BICS 8 QLC 3D NAND technology with a highly sophisticated proprietary controller, boasting 64 NAND channels, and custom firmware. This setup is designed to not only enhance storage density but also improve performance and energy efficiency, crucial for hyperscale storage needs.

According to Khurram Ismail, the incoming chief of Engineering and Product Management at Sandisk, the UltraQLC platform is the result of decades of experience and learning, aimed at fitting seamlessly into modern data infrastructure without compromising on density, performance, and power efficiency.

In addition to the UltraQLC SSDs, which are currently set to leverage 2Tb NAND memory ICs to reach capacities of 128TB, Sandisk is also looking towards even higher capacities in the future, including 256TB, 512TB, and eventually 1PB drives.

Addressing the challenges of AI and high-performance computing, Sandisk has also been exploring 3D DRAM as a solution to the so-called memory wall. However, as Alper Ilkbahar, memory technology chief at SanDisk, points out, the technological challenges in reaching 3D DRAM are substantial, and the industry lacks a clear path forward. Sandisk is actively researching new scalable memory technologies, such as HBF, as an alternative to traditional DRAM scaling limitations.

As the tech industry awaits the release of these advanced storage solutions, Sandisk and Western Digital are preparing for a corporate split, with both companies holding their Investor Days recently, where they revealed various technological advancements, including High Bandwidth Flash and heat dot magnetic recording (HDMR) technology.