Computer memory and data storage manufacturer Micron (opens in new tab) has decided to cease the production of the 3D XPoint memory, reportedly owing to poor sales.
Micron developed the 3D XPoint jointly with Intel in 2015 (opens in new tab), with the non-volatile memory claiming to offer higher performance and endurance than the popular NAND flash rival. While Micron started selling 3D XPoint-based products in 2019 under the QuantX brand (opens in new tab), Intel has been using the technology for a wide range of products it marketed under the Optane brand (opens in new tab).
The decision to stop the production of 3D XPoint memory-based products apparently stems from the lukewarm response it received from customers who weren’t willing to put in the effort to re-write their software to make full use of the memory, according to a Reuters (opens in new tab) interview with Micron's chief business officer, Sumit Sadana.
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Intel’s move
Earlier this year Intel killed off (opens in new tab) its entire range of Optane solid state drives (opens in new tab) for the consumer market. Instead it's now focused entirely on the new Optane Memory H20 (opens in new tab), which uses small amounts of Optane memory.
In addition to stopping production, Micron is also putting its under-utilized manufacturing unit that was producing 3D XPoint memory up for sale. The company is talking to several potential buyers and Intel, which doesn’t seem to be in a mood to give up on Optane anytime soon, is also said to be one of them.
Notably however Intel and Micron ceased all collaborative efforts in 2019 after completing development on the second generation 3D XPoint. While Intel has moved its 3D XPoint R&D to New Mexico, it hasn’t yet built up any fabrication units for their 3D XPoint needs.
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Via: AnandTech (opens in new tab)
