With the continuous development of hardware equipment technology and technological progress, there are more and more types of memory, including NOR flash and NAND flash. Although both types of storage are flash memory, they are very different in application scenarios and usage methods. This article will compare NOR flash and NAND flash to help you make the best decision when choosing the right memory.

1. Introduction to NOR Flash VS NAND Flash

1).NOR Flash

NOR Flash refers to the architecture type of non-gate (MOS) or non-or (MOS) flash memory chips. It is usually used to read some important instructions, configuration and BIOS information, and other applications that require fast response, such as code storage, executing firmware, storing logs, etc. The erasing and programming speed of NOR Flash is faster than that of NAND flash, and it can read large blocks of data at one time. NOR Flash is characterized by long life and high reliability, and supports both random access and serial access.

2).NAND Flash

NAND flash is a rewritable, programmable non-volatile memory based on MOS transistor arrays. NAND flash is a representative of low-cost, high-density, and large-capacity flash memory. NAND flash is usually widely used in scenarios such as mobile device storage space, SSD, USB flash drive and SD card. Unlike NOR flash, NAND Flash is more suitable for large-capacity data storage. NAND Flash is characterized by simple structure, fast writing and erasing speed, and low price.

2. The difference between NOR Flash VS NAND Flash

1).Different storage densities

The transistor connection method of NAND Flash is relatively simple, and it can store more data, so the storage density is higher, while NOR Flash cannot store larger data, and the memory capacity is lower.

2).Read and write speeds vary

In terms of read operations, NOR Flash is faster than NAND Flash, because NOR Flash can directly access random memory, and can also read data multiple times. In addition, the access speed of NOR Flash is about 200 times faster than that of NAND Flash.

3).Program and erase speeds are different

In terms of writing and erasing operations, NAND Flash is faster than NOR Flash, because NOR Flash requires a whole block operation to erase data, while NAND Flash can erase a single page without affecting other storage spaces.

4).Cost and reliability vary widely

Due to differences in manufacturing and design techniques, NOR Flash is more expensive than NAND Flash, and is susceptible to data loss due to noise and power consumption fluctuations. In contrast, the price of NAND flash is relatively cheap, and its reliability is high. When it is interrupted, only 1-2 memory blocks will be lost, and the overall data will not be affected.

3. Choose the right memory

When choosing which type of flash memory, we need to make decisions based on application scenarios and requirements.

If you need to quickly read, operate and store a small number of data blocks, then NOR Flash will be a better choice. NOR flash can support fast read and write operations, but the storage capacity may be limited and the price is high.

If the application scenario needs to store a large amount of data and be able to withstand erasing and reading operations, then NAND flash may be a better choice, especially in the field of large-capacity storage, where the advantages of NAND Flash are reflected. In addition, the price of NAND Flash is relatively low.

It should be noted that although there are differences between NOR flash and NAND Flash, they are not completely irreplaceable for each other. When designing memory chips, engineers can flexibly choose to use different combinations of them according to user needs and design requirements.

In short, when choosing the applicable scenarios of NOR Flash and NAND Flash, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as performance, capacity, durability, and cost to make an optimal decision.