flash

Nand Flash

Nor Flash

What is NOR Flash?

NOR flash is a type of non-volatile memory that allows random read access. It is commonly used for storing firmware and allows executing code directly from flash (XIP - Execute In Place).


Comparison Table

Feature Parallel NOR Flash SPI NOR Flash (SPI Flash)
Interface Parallel (8/16-bit bus) Serial (SPI: MOSI, MISO, SCLK)
Speed High (fast random access) Lower (due to serial nature)
Pins Required Many (20+ pins) Few (4–6 pins)
Physical Size Larger Smaller
Cost More expensive Cheaper
Power Consumption Higher Lower
Read Access Random access (byte-wise) Page-based, sequential access
Write Access Sector/page erase/write Sector/page erase/write
XIP Support Yes (native) Limited or requires mapping
Use Cases Boot code, firmware (MCUs, routers) Microcontrollers, IoT, sensors
Typical Capacity Up to 512 MB Up to 2 GB

Summary

  • SPI Flash is a type of NOR Flash that uses a serial interface (SPI).
  • SPI NOR Flash sacrifices speed and flexibility for lower cost, lower pin count, and small size.
  • Parallel NOR Flash is better for code execution and high-speed access.

S29GL128P90TFIR10 - NOR Flash 128Mb 3V 90ns Parallel NOR Flash

SCH

  • flash with bypass button

SPI NAND

SPI Nor VS. NAND Flash

✅ Summary Table

Feature SPI NOR SPI NAND
Capacity Low to medium Medium to very high
Random read speed ✅ Fast ❌ Slower
Write/erase speed ❌ Slower ✅ Faster
Reliability ✅ High ❌ Needs ECC
Bootable (XIP) ✅ Yes ❌ No
Cost per bit ❌ Higher ✅ Lower

TL;DR

  • 🧠 SPI NOR Flash = small, reliable, fast reads → great for firmware.
  • 📦 SPI NAND Flash = large, cheaper, needs ECC → great for data storage.

📦 Common Winbond SPI NOR Flash Models

Winbond's SPI NOR flash chips are usually labeled W25Q or W25X series.
They vary by capacity, voltage, speed, and features like Dual/Quad SPI.


🧰 Common W25Q Series (Most Popular)

Model Capacity Voltage Features
W25Q16JV 16 Mbit 2.7–3.6V Standard SPI, Dual/Quad SPI
W25Q32JV 32 Mbit 2.7–3.6V Very popular, common in MCUs
W25Q64JV 64 Mbit 2.7–3.6V Standard/Dual/Quad SPI
W25Q128JV 128 Mbit 2.7–3.6V XIP, dual/quad SPI support
W25Q256JV 256 Mbit 2.7–3.6V Larger firmware/data storage

un-sort

TC58FVM7(T/B)2AFT(65/80) - 128-MBIT (16M × 8 BITS / 8M × 16 BITS) CMOS FLASH MEMORY

AM29LV116DT-90EI - IC FLASH 16MBIT PARALLEL 40TSOP

ref