64 Mbyte Write once CMOS Chip from Standard Fabs

brian wang writes "Matrix semiconductor has taped out 64 Mbyte write once chip. It is 8 layer memory that can be made at standard fabs. They will be made at Taiwan Semiconductor initially in a 0.25micron process. It will be compatible with Flash. Obviously when they move to 0.18 micron and 0.13 and 0.10 micron processes that already are producing chips the memory size will shoot up to rival CDRoms from single chips. Revolutionary impact for handhelds, PCs, ROMDrives etc..." See, I knew it: Little is better.

Comments

OS BIOS

[lavaforge]

I'm not too much of a hardware guy, but I do know that the BIOS of a computer are made of CMOS. I also know that they're extremely small. Would this have any impact on instant boot projects like LinuxBIOS? With 64MB you could fit pretty much the entire boot procedure. That would be sweet.

Re:OS BIOS

[toastyman]

Actually, no.

The tiny bit of ram that the BIOS uses to store all your settings between boots is made of CMOS. The BIOS itself is stored in regular PROMs or in more recent years flash rom.

Ever closer

[GigsVT]

To creating real Write-only memory.

Re:How much will be "enough"?

[Tsar]

In ten years, if I can have a 1-cm resolution 3D map of my city, which will overlay on my HUD-equipped Oakleys and provide interactivity with any object in my visual environment, and that database requires a 500GB solid state 3D-memory device, then that's what I'm going to want. Learn from history: If you build it, the applications will come.

I once heard a story (may be an urban legend—anybody have good data?) that Bill Gates once visited Intel's offices and that while he and Andy Grove strolled about the facility, Grove mentioned that it was difficult to imagine a widespread consumer market for the blazingly fast CPUs on the far right of Intel's roadmap. According to the story, Gates replied with something like, "Don't worry; continue to develop and market faster chips, and we will continue to develop and market innovative and compelling software that will bring it to its knees." I'd wager that the same goes for memory technology.

New Intel Marketing?

[Havokmon]

Perhaps in the future your processor will be the size and shape of a die or cube of cheese.

Behold, the power of Cheesium 886.

Re:write once? umm... no thanks.

[Sunken Kursk]

what's the point if I can only write once?

Tell him what some uses are, Johnny!

• Low-cost, high-capacity memory for embedded devices
• Smaller, scratch resistant replacement for CDs (Especially good for singles)
• "Rolls of film" for a digital camera without spending $30 on a new flash card. This makes it possible for people with no/slow computers to use digital cameras easily and maintain a digital copy of their images.
• Here's the one nobody's thought of, evidence collection. Because the device is WOPM (Write once, play many), police departments will be able to use it in their digital cameras, camcorders, etc. This makes it much more difficult for someone to say "The photos/tape was doctored" when you can show them the images direct from a WOPM source.

unless they really make the modules so cheap they're practically giving them away

I believe that's what they're envisioning. From the article..."The company envisions its chips being cheap enough to be sold in multipacks at grocery checkout counters". Wow, an 8 pack of 64 meg memory modules for the same price as a pack of batteries? Even one for the same price as a pack of batteries would be worth the cost.

I formally declare this a good thing. But don't take my word for it, read the article yourself.

More info at their website

[Myco]

The article is a bit lacking on consumer-relevant details, but the marketese on their site gives you a better idea of that stuff.

Notables:

• Price: "Matrix 3DM cards will be comparable in cost to 35mm film and work in a similar fashion"
• Longevity: "Matrix 3-D Memory's array structure results in an archival storage device capable of storing data for more than 100 years."
• Scaling up: "By leveraging the same infrastructure as the rest of the industry, Matrix 3-D Memory will scale at least as fast as other semiconductor technologies, maintaining its significant cost advantage with future process generations."
• Compatibility: "Interchangeable with re-writeable flash cards"
• Capacity: "Comparable cost per megabyte to optical and magnetic storage"

Re:How much will be "enough"?

[plastik55]

...overlay on my HUD-equipped Oakleys and provide interactivity with any object in my visual environment...

You can just walk up and touch the things you know...