How many transistors in a 4GB USB stick or SD card?

[NewUser]

I'm guessing around 32 billion, assuming 8 transistors for each byte of memory.

Sounds too mind-blowing for me which is why I'm asking!

 

[JimB]

Give or take a few millon.

Who cares, it is a memory stick, you cant get inside to do anything with it.

JimB

 

[OutToLunch]

the only reason I can think of to know the number of transistors in an IC is for reliability calculations.

 

[Papabravo]

One transistor per bit is optimistic. My guess would be 4 to 6 CMOS FETs per bit.

 

[NEBO666]

Flash memory stores information in an array of memory cells made from floating-gate transistors. In traditional single-level cell (SLC) devices, each cell stores only one bit of information. Some newer flash memory, known as multi-level cell (MLC) devices, can store more than one bit per cell by choosing between multiple levels of electrical charge to apply to the floating gates of its cells.
NewUser, you are right if the usb stick uses SCL.. but if the usb stick uses MLC, the the number of transistor is less

 

[NewUser]

Who cares, it is a memory stick, you cant get inside to do anything with it.

JimB

I plan to build my own USB stick, so I need a quantity before I place an order for the transistors.

 

[NewUser]

^Sorry couldn't resist.

The reason is curiousity. A dangerous thing, I know

 

[Rippey574]

I would just spend the 20 or 3o bucks to buy one, I think it would be over priced to make one of your own, not to mention the probability failure rate and over sized of it. I just don't see a human doing the micro wiring that's inside of one.

 

[q5101997]

I don't think wacking a mosfet or two on a breadboard makes a non-volatile memory bit. USB's use multi-layered fets that hold each other in a state through reactions accross thier metal oxide insulating layers. Seriously, a volatile memory bit can be made using four bjt transistors. 4x1G?

 

[dknguyen]

I don't think wacking a mosfet or two on a breadboard makes a non-volatile memory bit. USB's use multi-layered fets that hold each other in a state through reactions accross thier metal oxide insulating layers. Seriously, a volatile memory bit can be made using four bjt transistors. 4x1G?

S/he has a point.

 

[davew]

^Sorry couldn't resist.

The reason is curiousity. A dangerous thing, I know

Oh it is, I'm now thinking about how many valves it would take,
the physically size, and the power supply requirments.