SLC vs. MLC Flash Memory

SLC vs. MLC: An Analysis of Flash Memory

Single-level cell (SLC) and multi-level cell (MLC) Flash memory are similar in their design. MLC Flash devices cost less and allow for higher storage density. SLC Flash devices provide faster write performance and greater reliability, even at temperatures above the operating range of MLC Flash devices.

SLC Flash stores one bit value per cell, which basically is a voltage level. The bit value is interpreted as a “0” or a “1” and there are multiple values that an MLC cell can represent. The values can be interpreted as four distinct states: 00, 01, 10, or 11.


SLC and MLC Compared

Now that the differences between SLC and MLC have been explained, let’s compare their specifications to help further make a distinction between the two grades.

	SLC	MLC
Density	16Mbit	32Mbit	64Mbit
Read Speed	100ns	120ns	150ns
Block Size	64Kbyte	128Kbyte
Architecture	x8	x8 / x16
Endurance	100,000 cycles	10,000 cycles
Operating Temperature	Industrial	Commercial

Advantages and disadvantages of SLC Flash and MLC Flash

	SLC	MLC
High Density
Low Cost per Bit
Endurance
Operating Temperature Range
Low Power Consumption
Write/Erase Speeds
Write/Erase Endurance

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