Product Showcase

The SSD can be opened up and shows a full size PCB. This 6 Gbps (SATA3) storage unit makes use of Micron MLC 3D NAND. A total of four NAND flash memory ICs can be spotted on each side (thus 8 in total) of the PCB for the entire 480 GB (physically 512GB). The NAND FLASH partitions are assigned directly to the controller.

Here we can see the Silicon Motion SM2258 4-channel controller, SM2258 also features advanced SLC Caching algorithms for optimal sustained performance with that NAND.
 

 
Sitting at its right side is a DRAM chip, one for this SSD. That would be a 512MB DRAM cache buffer, mind you that the 120 and 240GB versions get a 256MB DRAM cache.
  

As stated, the NAND used is the 3D NAND which we're should be MLC written. The ICs are not recognized in any database just yet, so it's the new stuff alright, likely 64-layer V-NAND.
  

 
Here we see the backside of the PCB, again we see four NAND ICs. Small PCB eh? Less materials and components used means a cheaper to produce and more cost effective product.