Seagate signs a deal with Densbits, signaling entry into the consumer SSD market

HARD DRIVE MAKER Seagate has signed a deal with Densbits to use its NAND flash storage controller technology in its upcoming solid state disk (SSD) drives.

Seagate has been toying with the idea of SSDs for some time now with its Momentus XT hybrid drives, however the firm has finally signalled its intent to get serious about SSDs. Seagate not only said it signed an agreement with Densbits to use its controllers in SSDs but has also bought equity in the firm.

According to Seagate, it will use Densbits' controller technology in SSDs featuring NAND flash memory fabbed on 1Xnm process nodes. The firm didn't go into any more detail on the process nodes to be used but said that the memory chips will include 3bit/cell and 2bit/cell TLC and MLC parts, respectively.

Seagate and Western Digital have been falling behind the SSD curve as a number of NAND flash makers have successfully moved into the market, leading to significant price cuts. With both Western Digital and Seagate cutting warranties and hard drive prices remaining high after last year's floods in Thailand, consumers are increasingly looking towards SSDs.

The company didn't say when it intends to produce consumer SSDs, but if it doesn't want to be left spinning platters on the sidelines it needs to enter the market sooner rather than later. µ