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Intel Previews Potential Replacement for Flash Memory

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the welcome-to-the-world-of-tomorrow dept.

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."

4 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Similar to CD-RW? by cperciva · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Quoth the article:
    PCM chips use the same material, chalcogenide, that's used inside to store data in a rewritable optical discs.

    For a system designed to "sustain millions of read/write cycles", this seems a bit strange -- last I heard, CD-RW disks were limited to a few hundred rewrites, never mind millions.

    --
    Tarsnap: Online backups for the truly paranoid
    1. Re:Similar to CD-RW? by mgblst · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You realise that CPUs user the same material as most beaches, but they still manage to give them many more FLOPS than your average beach. It is almost as if it is more important the way the material is used - nah, that can't be true. If one product is made out the same material as another product, then it must be exactly the same!!!

    2. Re:Similar to CD-RW? by saider · · Score: 5, Insightful

      but there's no fundamental technical difference as far as I can see

      Except that one is changed with a laser and the other is done electrically?

      The laser is probably more powerful than it needs to be because it needs to pass through a (relatively) dirty lens, several mm of air, and a layer of plastic before altering the material. in order to do this reliably, they overpower the laser so that it can achieve the effect. The tradeoff is that the excess power wears the material out faster.

      Now the material is integrated into a chip and uses simple thermal conduction instead of radiation to achieve the effect. The distances are much smaller and the environment is much more controlled, which means that you do not need to overpower the devices. This results in reduced wear, which means a longer life.

      As the GPP said...
      "It is almost as if it is more important the way the material is used".

      --


      Remember, You are unique...just like everyone else.
  2. watch your metaphors by oohshiny · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think when people talk about "quantum leaps", they are forgetting two things: (1) quantum leaps are usually tiny, and (2) it is unpredictable when they happen. Is that the metaphor Intel wants?