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Look at the size of it compared to the Intel CPU. That thing is huge. What are the usual node size SSD controller manufactured in? 28/40nm

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Here's something that might be surprising to some: package size is related to the number of pins mostly, not to the size of the silicon - and more pins if the consumption is higher

(Usually bigger silicon has more pins, and vice versa, but not necessarily)

Usually yes. There is even a little PCB between the mainboard and the chip to get enough area for the thousands of pins.

But this is not the case if they stack the flash chips with the controller chips. Then only a few external pins are needed for communication and power. But the flash chips actually need the silicon area for all those tiny flash cells.

It's huge not because it needs to be but because it needs to fit the PoP bottom package to match the flash chip on top. The flash chip actually needs to be that size, so there you go.

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