Breaking SK hynix-Made NAND Detected in Budget SSDs

A solid-state drive (SSD) with the brand name “ShineDisk” that was manufactured in China using recycled SK Hynix NAND. This SSD was sent to Apple. Apple’s devices made use of a technology called ShineDisk. This solid-state drive, often known as an SSD, was used by Apple products.

 NAND In Apple SSDs:

Have you ever wondered what happens to NAND chips that are faulty or don’t meet the requirements? Certainly not among the most reliable solid-state drives (SSDs). However, you will probably discover them included inside knock-off SSD brands that are available for purchase at absurdly cheap costs on online marketplaces like as AliExpress.

Prior to the maturation of the process node, NAND yield rates are often rather poor. Numerous times along the production process, companies will come across NAND that either does not fulfil the needs of the customer or does not pass quality control. Instead of discarding the NAND, which would contribute to an increase in electronic waste, the manufacturers recycle it into cheaper goods or sell it to local firms, which has resulted in the proliferation of unknown SSD brands on the Chinese market.

ShineDisk M667 (M667-120G) is a 120GB SATA SSD that sells for around $13 in China. A Chinese data recovery YouTuber recently disassembled one of these drives and discovered what is believed to be NAND for Apple devices that was made by SK Hynix. Please be aware that this is a counterfeit brand and should not be mistaken with the original SanDisk, which was purchased by Western Digital.

The solid-state drive controller is the sole component of the ShineDisk M667 that seems to be authentic. Silicon Motion’s SM2258XT is a DRAM-less SATA III interface, and it is used by the drive. These SSDs, such as the Crucial BX500, TeamGroup EX2, and WD Blue 3D, are powered by an SSD controller that has since become obsolete.

The NAND chips used in the ShineDisk M667 are larger in size compared to the NAND chips used in a standard solid-state drive (SSD). According to the YouTuber, it is apparently SK hynix’s E2NAND, which looks like a multi-chip package with an MSP controller and incorporated ECC compatibility. Moreover, the YouTuber claims that it is a multi-chip package. On the SK hynix website, we were unable to locate any public information on E2NAND. On the other hand, we did find a lot of references to E2NAND in connection with Apple products on a variety of Chinese online shopping websites.

Nobody knows where NAND came from in the first place. It’s possible that it came from a plant that makes NAND for Apple, but it’s also possible that it came from a third-party dealer who ripped them out of broken iPhones. However, the YouTuber believes that the former explanation is more likely given that the quality exhibits some amount of professionalism.

In the field of hardware, it is a common practise to reprocess components for use in the production of lower-tier items or brand-new products. Businesses are continuously seeking for methods to increase their profitability. A recent research, for instance, uncovered the fact that some suppliers recycle ICs from servers and turn them into consumer memory. The issue at hand is one of dependability.

on the ShineDisk M667 solid-state drive (SSD), we are clueless on the origin of the NAND. It would come as no surprise to anybody if, one day, the ShineDisk M667 suddenly stopped working for no apparent reason. That is the danger of purchasing a non-name brand solid state drive (SSD) from a market that is saturated with knock-offs for the price of just $13. You would be better off searching for one of the finest offers on solid-state drives offered by reputable brands.

Source(s)