Crucial is using Micron's new 128Gb (16GB) 16-nm MLC Flash memory; because Micron can fit more chips on a wafer due to the 128Gb capacity and smaller fab process, the die yield per wafer is significantly higher in production. With a higher yield, the Flash manufacturer can increase supply and should theoretically be able to mitigate price further -- hopefully carrying over to device prices in everything that uses the NAND.
We're unsure of what controller the MX100 will be using, but it's likely to have the same eight-channel split that every other modern SSD controller utilizes (eight channels that talk to four dies each - so 32 dies for optimal performance on the controller). It seems plausible to me that 480GB SSDs will continue to proliferate and drop in price as these 16Gb NAND chips are produced; it'd take 32x128Gb dies to build a 480GB SSD (accounting for overprovisioning), which just so happens to be the ideal count of dies for best performance on an eight-channel controller.
The MX100 is due in June.
- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.
