What Makes 16GB Thumb Drive Memory So Impressive?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the technology and specifications of 16GB thumb drives, focusing on their storage capacity, size, and the underlying memory technology used, particularly in the context of non-volatile memory and NAND Flash technology.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the impressive capacity of 16GB devices, questioning the number of transistors involved and how memory is retained without power.
  • Another participant mentions the availability of larger USB drives, such as 256GB, and emphasizes the use of non-volatile memory in these devices.
  • A third participant expresses appreciation for a shared link that provides additional information.
  • One participant elaborates on the NAND Flash memory technology, indicating that it typically involves one transistor per bit and describes the structure of the memory with row and column transistor pass gates.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present various aspects of thumb drive technology, but there is no consensus on the specifics of how memory is stored or the implications of the technology discussed.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the technology and its operation remain unaddressed, such as the exact mechanisms of data retention in non-volatile memory and the implications of transistor density.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in computer hardware, memory technology, or those exploring the specifications and capabilities of USB thumb drives may find this discussion relevant.

jackmell
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So it seems they have 16 GB devices. So that's 16 billion bytes probably on some storage element no bigger than a postage stamp and very thin. So that's what 128 billion bits?

So does that mean we have a single memory device, postage-stamp size, with 128 billion transistors? How exactly is the memory being saved without power?
 
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Thanks for the link. :)
 
Yeah, IMP's link has a further link to the NAND Flash memory chip technology that is being used to store the bits. And yes, basically one transistor per bit, with row and column transistor pass gates and other decoding transistor logic as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAND_flash#NAND_flash

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