NOR | NAND

Flash Guide

Selecting a Flash Memory Solution for Embedded Applications

When looking for flash memory for your embedded applications, Micron has the right solution: Our many years of embedded industry
experience and our broad portfolio of NOR and NAND flash memory products — from serial and parallel NOR flash, to raw and managed
NAND flash, to solid state drives (SSDs) — provide you with ideal code and data storage solutions. Selecting the right solution requires an
understanding of each technology, including attributes related to I/O performance, pin count, data integrity, and manufacturing longevity
requirements. This guide describes the various flash technologies and provides a systematic way for an embedded system designer to
select the optimal nonvolatile memory solution based on key design considerations. The application requirements will ultimately dictate
the right solution.

Getting to Know NOR Flash

NOR flash devices, available in densities up to 2Gb, are primarily used for reliable code storage (boot, application, OS, and execute-
in-place [XIP] code in an embedded system) and frequently changing small data storage. NOR flash provides systems with the fastest
bootable memory solution, is easy to implement, and requires minimal ongoing management due to the underlying cell structure.
Because of the cell structure, NOR flash is inherently more reliable than other solutions.

There are two general categories of NOR flash—serial and parallel—that differ primarily with respect to their memory interfaces. Serial
NOR flash, with its high-speed continuous read capabilities throughout the entire memory array and its small erase block sizes, is tailored
for applications that shadow program code and/or store granular data. Serial NOR’s low pin counts and small package solutions make it a
good fit for applications like PCs, ultrathins, servers, set-top boxes (STBs), printers, Blu-ray drives/players, modems/routers, wearables, and
hard disk drives (HDDs). Parallel NOR flash delivers fast system boot times, making it ideal for applications like digital still cameras (DSC and
DSLR) that need performance, as well as other process-intensive applications like networking routers/switches, home gateways, and STBs.

Micron has created a new category of NOR flash, called Xccela™ flash memory, which leverages the best of serial NOR flash and parallel
NOR flash so that system designers do not have to choose between high performance and low pin counts.

Parallel NOR Flash Xccela Flash and

Serial NOR Flash

ASIC ASIC
or or
µC µC

Xccela flash uses 16-pin package

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

Getting to Know NAND Flash

NAND flash devices, available in 128Mb to 2Tb+ densities, are used to store data and code. Low-density NAND flash is ideal for applications like
STBs, digital televisions (DTVs), and DSCs while high-density NAND flash is most commonly used in data-heavy applications like SSDs, tablets,
and USB drives. There is a continuous effort to reduce the cost/GB of NAND devices, so device life cycles tend to be shorter with more frequent
process lithography shrinks than NOR flash. NAND requires a controller, either internal or external, and specific firmware for error code correction
(ECC), bad block management, and wear leveling.

There are two primary types of NAND: raw and managed. Raw NAND comes in different flavors, including single-level cell (SLC), multilevel cell
(MLC), triple-level cell (TLC) and quad-level cell (QLC) in the future. Additionally, NAND technology is migrating from planar to 3D for higher
density applications. 3D NAND has an inherently larger cell with better reliability, so TLC based on 3D (3D-TLC) is expected to become main-
stream in the next 1-2 years. Raw NAND requires external management but is the lowest cost/GB NAND flash available. Managed NAND
incorporates memory management into the package, simplifying the design-in process.

Raw NAND Fully Managed NAND

NAND Controller NAND Controller

Wear Leveling Low-Level Driver

Command/Block
e.MMC or
Management SDCard
Bus
ECC
e.MMC or SSD
Driver
Controller
Wear Leveling
ONFI NAND CMD/Block Mgmt
Bus
NAND Error Mgmt

NAND
NAND

NOR and NAND Features Comparison

Xccela NOR Flash | Serial NOR | Parallel NOR SLC/MLC/TLC/SPI NAND | Managed NAND
• Lower density, low pin count (serial) • Higher density, low pin count
• Ease-of-use • Requires controller management (SLC, MLC)
• Reliable code and data storage • Mostly data-focused
• Fast read and random access times • Fast writes and erases
• Higher endurance and data retention • Focused on highest reliability and performance (SLC),
optimum reliability and lower cost (MLC and 3D TLC), cost-
focused applications (2D TLC, QLC), and reduced time-to-
market/ease of design-in with managed NAND

Note: Other design considerations include controller type, voltage requirements, individual parameter and feature specifications, security*, and software.

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

Densities Offered by Device Type

The chart below shows various NOR and NAND density ranges to help identify the best solution for your application requirements.

Low Density Mid Density High Density

512Kb 32Mb 128Mb 256Mb 512Mb 1Gb 2Gb 4Gb 8Gb 16Gb 32Gb 124Gb 2GB 4GB 16GB 32GB 128GB 240GB 1Tb

Serial NOR
128Mb–2Gb
Parallel NOR
128Mb–2Gb
Xccela NOR Flash
256Mb–2Gb

SLC NAND
Standard 128Mb–64Gb
Serial 1Gb–4Gb

MLC NAND
Standard 2GB–1Tb
Embedded MLC+ NAND 4GB–16GB
TLC NAND
16GB–32GB

Managed NAND
e.MMC 2GB–128GB
SSD 60GB–240GB

NOR and NAND Read Performance

As shown in the figure below, read performance is mostly governed by bus width and clock speed (e.g., x16 and 133 MHz).

Random Read Access Performance vs. Large Data Size

600
x8 200 MHz DDR Octal NOR (MT35X)

x16 133 MHz Burst Parallel NOR (G18)

500 x8 166 MHz SDR Twin-Quad Serial NOR (MT25T)

x16 Pagemode Access NOR (MT28EW)

x4 133 MHz SDR/66 MHz DDR Serial NOR (MT25Q)

400
Transfer Rate (MB/sec)

x8 NAND ONFI 1.0

x8 NAND ONFI 3.0

300 x8 NAND ONFI 4.0

x8 e.MMC 4.5

x8 e.MMC 5.0
200
M500 SSD

100

0
1 4 16 64 256 1K 4K 16K 64K 256K 1M 4M 16M 64M 256M 1G

Bytes per Fetch

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

Micron NOR Flash Portfolio

Serial NOR
Due to it’s interface and low pin count, Micron’s serial NOR flash is easy to use and is a simple solution for applications that code shadow; simply
provide a starting address in the memory to read and then continuously clock data out from the device throughout the entire memory array.
Features such as advanced security and memory protection provide peace of mind for securing vital program code and sensitive user data*.
Whatever the application, Micron has the right serial NOR flash solution. Our twin-quad serial NOR flash combines two quad I/O devices into a
single package to create an 8-bit, bidirectional I/O structure. Coupled with an operating frequency of 166 MHz, Micron’s twin-quad serial NOR
doubles our last-generation serial NOR maximum bandwidth rate from 83 MB/s to 166 MB/s.

Parallel NOR
Parallel NOR flash devices operate in page mode for use where code runs directly from the device to minimize system boot time, making
it ideal for applications that need performance as well as other applications that are process-intensive. These devices enriched with many
features also provide data security options* and are ideal for long-term use in industrial applications. Parallel NOR is offered in standard
product types available from Micron.

Xccela NOR Flash

Micron’s Xccela flash memory uses our Xccela bus interface to offer significant improvement in performance, reduction in pin count (only
11 active signal pins) and energy consumption compared to other NOR flash solutions in the market. Xccela flash memory is ideal for next-
generation applications that require fast boots, instant-on access and data rendering while minimizing system cost and energy.

NOR Features Comparison

Serial (SPI) Xccela Flash
Low pin count, security*, Extreme performance, low pin count,
granular erase architectures low energy
MT35X (x8 Monolithic SPI Multi I/O):
MT25T (x8 SPI Multi I/O):
• Octal DDR protocol
• x1–x8 (twin-quad I/O)
• x1, x8 (SPI-compatible serial bus)
• 1.8V or 3V
• 1.8V or 3V
• 4KB subsector erase
• 28 pJ/bit
• 256Mb–1Gb
• 4KB subsector erase
• Up to 166 MHz reads (166 MB/s)
• 256Mb–2Gb
MT25Q (x4 SPI Multi I/O): • Up to 200 MHz reads (400 MB/s)
• x1–x4 (quad I/O) • 86ns latency (2 bytes)
• 1.8V or 3V
• 4KB subsector erase
• 128Mb–2Gb
Parallel
• 166 MHz SDR/90 Mhz DDR reads (90 MB/s) Fast boot, low-latency reads, fast random access
MT28EW:
• 3V
• 128Mb–2Gb

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

NOR Densities
See Micron’s NOR products by type and density as well as the key products recommended for new designs in the chart below.

Micron Embedded NOR Solutions

Device Type 512Kb–

8Mb 16Mb 32Mb 64Mb 128Mb 256Mb 512Mb 1Gb 2Gb
4Mb

M25P M25P
M25PE, M45PE
Serial 3V
M25PX M25PX
MT25Q
N25Q

N25Q
Serial 1.8V
MT25T
Xccela Flash 3V MT35X
Xccela Flash 1.8V MT35X
Recommended for new designs Supported per PLP commitments

Selecting a Serial NOR Device

If the key features of serial NOR match your design requirements, use the following tables to help select the right serial NOR device for your
design. For more details, see the full serial NOR part catalog and find a sales representative at micron.com.

Xccela Flash Memory and Serial NOR – Quick Features Comparison

Voltage Erasable Bus Density MAX Clock/ Program/ Package

Product Range Sectors Width Range MAX Data Erase Options
Transfer Rate Cycling
MT35X 2.7–3.6V 4KB, 32KB, x1, x8 256Mb–2Gb 200 MHz (400 MB/s) 100,000 SOIC, BGA
(Xccela NOR Flash) 1.7–2.0V 128KB uniform

MT25T 2.7–3.6V 4KB, 32KB, x1, x2, x4, x8 256Mb–1Gb 166 MHz (166 MB/s) 100,000 SOIC, BGA
1.7–2.0V 64KB uniform

MT25Q 2.7–3.6V 4KB, 32KB, x1, x2, x4 256Mb–2Gb 166 MHz (83 MB/s) 100,000 DFN, SOIC, BGA
1.7–2.0V 64KB

N25Q 2.7–3.6V 4KB, x1, x2, x4 16Mb–1Gb 108 MHz (54 MB/s) 100,000 DFN, SOIC, BGA
1.7–2.0V 64KB uniform

Note: This table only includes devices recommended for new designs. Not all densities available in all package and voltage combinations.

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

Serial NOR Application

Xccela Requirements
Flash Memory by Product
and Serial NOR Application Family by Product Family
Requirements

Application Requirements 512Kb 1Mb 2Mb 4Mb 8Mb 16Mb 32Mb 64Mb 128Mb 256Mb 512Mb 1Gb 2Gb

MT25Q/ MT25Q/ MT25Q/

Standard SPI MT25Q
MT25T MT25T MT25T
MT25Q

Octal SPI (extreme performance MT35X MT35X MT35X MT35X

with low pin counts)

Dual-I/O usage MT25Q MT25Q MT25Q MT25Q MT25Q

High-performance SPI, MT25Q MT25Q MT25Q MT25Q MT25Q

quad I/O, XIP

High-performance SPI, x8 I/0, XIP MT25T MT25T MT25T

MT25Q/ MT25Q/ MT25Q/

1.8V (low-power consumption) MT25Q
MT25T MT25T MT25T
MT25Q

Selecting a Parallel NOR Device

If the key features of parallel NOR match your design requirements, use the following table to help select the right device. For more details,
see our full parallel NOR part catalog and find a sales representative at micron.com.

Parallel NOR – Quick Features Comparison

Multi-Bank Program/
(Read-While- A/D, AA/D
Product Core I/O Bus Density Sync Burst MUX Security Erase Package
Voltage Voltage Width Range Read Write, Read- Features* Cycling Options
While-Erase) Option

128Mb– 56-pin TSOP

MT28EW 2.7–3.6V 1.65–3.6V x8, x16 No No No Yes 100,000 64-ball FBGA
2Gb

Note: This table only includes devices recommended for new designs.

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

Micron NAND Flash Portfolio

Select from one of the industry’s broadest portfolio of raw and managed NAND flash. To meet the high reliability and temperature
requirements of embedded applications like automotive and industrial, many of Micron’s NAND flash solutions are ISO/TS 16949-certified
and have extended temperature ranges as well as long product life cycles.

Raw NAND
Raw NAND provides the lowest cost per bit but requires an external host controller (not contained within the package) to perform all
management functions (e.g., ECC, FTL).

Single-level cell (SLC)

One bit per cell; high performance and write endurance and lowest cost/bit for ≤1GB densities; low density SLC is used for code stor-
age in embedded applications while high-density SLC is used in mission-critical systems where high performance and best-in-class
reliability are required.

Serial SLC NAND

Low-density SLC devices with a NOR-like serial interface to simplify system design

Multilevel cell (MLC)

Two bits per cell; a good balanced of performance and write endurance for a wide range of cost-sensitive, high-density applications

Enterprise MLC NAND

Uses special programming algorithms to extend write endurance; typically used in high-write workloads like time shifting (pausing live TV)

Triple-level cell (TLC)

Three bits per cell; high cell density, but lower performance and endurance specifications; most often used in mass storage consumer
applications (e.g., client SSDs, USB drives or SD cards) with very high cost sensitivity; however, with 3D TLC NAND, reliability is ad-
equate for applications that have used planar MLC.

Managed NAND
Managed NAND provides simpler solutions and accelerates time-to-market because the controller is embedded within the package to
handle wear leveling, bad block management and ECC.

e­.MMC Memory
High-capacity NAND flash device combined with a high-speed MultiMediaCard (MMC) controller in a single BGA package; suitable
for designers looking for a fully managed device and ease of design for MMC-like, application-to-application interoperability for a
wide range of networking, industrial, and automotive applications

On-die ECC NAND

Hybrid between raw and fully managed NAND; ECC is integrated while wear leveling and bad block management are handled by
the host controller

Solid State Drives (SSDs)

NAND-based drives that enhance reliability, reduce power, and provide faster performance compared to hard disk drives (HDDs)

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

Selecting a NAND Device

If the key features of NAND match your design requirements, use the following table to help select the right device. For more details, see our
NAND part catalogs and our Choosing the Right NAND page, and find a sales representative at micron.com.

Raw NAND – Quick Features Comparison

Device Density Width Voltage Benefits

SLC NAND 128Mb–64Gb x8, x16 1.8V, 3.3V • Up to 100,000 P/E cycle endurance
• Fastest NAND throughput
• Compatible with the ONFI-synchronous interface

Serial (SPI) 1Gb–4Gb x1, x2, x4 1.8V, 3.3V • Ease-of-use, faster boot up
SLC NAND • Increased power efficiency
• High performance, low power
• Increased bandwidth

MLC NAND 2GB–1Tb x8 3.3V • Solid performance and endurance

• 2X the density of SLC NAND at a lower cost per bit
• Compatible with the ONFI-synchronous interface

Embedded MLC+ 4GB–16GB x8 3.3V • Optimized performance for intensive applications

NAND • Compatible with ONFI interface
• High endurance, high capacity, and high reliability
• Full turnkey solution ensures sophisticated NAND
management solution

TLC NAND 16GB–32GB x8 3.3V • Higher density in the same footprint but at a lower
cost than SLC or MLC NAND

Managed NAND – Quick Features Comparison

Device Density Interface Voltage Benefits

e.MMC 2GB–128GB 4.41, 4.51 and 5.0 3.3V • Single-package solution for designers looking
JEDEC standard for MMC-like application-to-application
interoperability
• Offered in a variety of densities and options

SSD 60GB–240GB SATA 6 Gb/s 3.3V (mSATA), • Designed for industrial applications
5V (2.5-inch) • High performance and reliability

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 NOR | NAND Flash Guide

Benefits of Partnering With an Embedded Memory Expert

As a leading supplier of memory for 30+ years with an in-depth understanding of the embedded industry, you can rely on
Micron as a single source for your embedded memory needs. Team up with us, and get:

A long-term partner, dedicated to your success

Get long-term support for eligible products with our Product Longevity Program (PLP) — select Micron memory products
available for the full customer product life cycle, giving peace of mind that the memory you design in today will be available for
10 years or more.

The tools to enable your next-generation innovation

Get the right memory technology — designed for embedded industry requirements — at just the right time thanks to our
ever-expanding industry knowledge base and strong relationships with chipset vendors. Coupled with support from our
embedded memory experts and technical resources, you’ll be armed with a total solution that is optimized for your
next-generation embedded applications.

Reliability from a world-class supplier

Rely on products that are manufactured by Micron with a focus on high quality and reliability standards. We test select devices
with an extended temperature range of –40˚C up to 125˚C for the highest reliability, and many of our products have also achieved
ISO/TS certification.
As new designs emerge and requirements shift, you can continue to depend on Micron to offer the broadest portfolio of memory
solutions to fuel your embedded innovations.

More Information
Learn more about Micron’s flash memory solutions, and find a sales representative or authorized distributor at micron.com.

micron.com
*No hardware, software or system can provide absolute security under all conditions. Micron assumes
no liability for lost, stolen or corrupted data arising from the use of any Micron products, including
those products that incorporate any of the mentioned security features.
Products are warranted only to meet Micron’s production data sheet specifications. Products, pro-
grams and specifications are subject to change without notice. Dates are estimates only.
©2017 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. All information is provided on an “AS IS” basis with-
out warranties of any kind. Micron, the Micron logo, Xccela and all other Micron trademarks are the
property of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Rev. E 12/17 CCMMD-676576390-2567