Intel Previews Potential Replacement for Flash Memory

GeeksAreSexy writes "Eweek has an article up about the invention of a new kind of nonvolatile memory technology that could one day replace traditional flash memory. Unlike traditional flash memory, chips using this new technology will be able to execute code with performance, and sustain millions of read/write cycles without dying." From the article: "This is a case in which 'Necessity is the mother of invention' is very true. We were forced to look for something else, completely different. That's why we decided to invest in PCM ... There are definitely limits to what you can do with our current flash methodology. There needs to be a complete quantum leap somewhere along the line to push everything forward. We believe PCM are going to be that quantum leap."

Comments

Re:Similar to CD-RW?

[dhovis]

You realise that CPUs user the same material as most beaches

Ummmm.....No. Beach sand is mostly silicon dioxide, whereas computer chips are fabricated starting from wafers of very pure silicon.

Diamond (pure carbon) and carbon dioxide don't have similar properites either.

Sorry to get pedantic, but I'm a materials scientist, and it really pisses me off when people get these things mixed up. It is even worse when people confuse silicon (the base material for computer chips) with silicone (a polymer material used in caulking and breast implants).

Re:And this is NEW?

[cyfer2000]

While the whole thing is a little more complicated. Ovshinsky was the first one to get patent on this area, and he opened a company named Ovonics. Then Ovonics created a company named Ovonyx with a cofounder of Micron. Ovonyx is focused on the Phase Change RAM while Ovonics keeps working on things like Fuel cell, Solar cell, batteries...

Gordon Moore of Intel was also one of the early researchers on the area of Phasse Change RAM. In 2000, Intel invested some big money into Ovonyx and get the license of Phase Change RAM from Ovonyx. Samsung licensed the Phase Change RAM from Ovonyx later.