Micron and Lexar deliver faster, smaller cards

The 32GB multi-level cell chip is 17 percent smaller than Micron first-generation 32Gb chip. The 16Gb chip is just 84mm square. The ONFI 2.1 synchronous interface in both Micron chips delivers transfer speeds of up to 200 megabytes per second, the company says, while traditional SLC NAND is limited to 40 MB per second.

Lexar Media is using the Flash chips in its latest storage cards. The Platinum II 32GB Secure Digital High Capacity card can store up to 12 hours of high-definition video or more than 20,000 5-megapixel images, Lexar says. The card has a minimum-sustained write speed of 9MB per second, which the company says enables photo enthusiasts to take advantage of their cameras burst-mode setting to capture many images in rapid succession. In addition, a minimum-sustained read speed of 12MB per second ensures fast transfers of images from the card to a host computer.

Lexar’s 16GB microSDHC card is aimed at mobile phones, and can store up to 48,000 2-megapixel JPEG photos, or 80 hours of standard-definition video.