Phase-change RAM from Samsung

Discussion in 'News and Article Comments' started by Big B, Sep 11, 2006.

  1. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    This has nothing to do with extreme cooling methods, but there is a new RAM technology Samsung is testing right now. It's Phase-change RAM (PRAM), and DailyTech has some tidbits on it.

    PRAM, says Samsung, is much faster than the fastest NOR flash memory. Samsung indicated that PRAM achieves its performance by changing the way it writes and reads to memory. Unlike current NOR flash, PRAM does not have to erase data before writing new data. This alone achieves 30 times the performance of current memory technology said Samsung. Durability and endurance are also a key development for PRAM, allowing products to last at least 10 times longer.
     
  2. Swansen

    Swansen The Ninj

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    well i was excited but then they have to go and make it propritary, and have thier own socket. i don't understand whey wouldn't just use ddr or ddr2 socket
     
  3. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    It's not in competition with DDR and DDR2, which are both of the DRAM variety.
    DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) needs to be refreshed and will loose it's contents if power is lost. This last point also means that it's classified as a volitile memory.

    PRAM is a non-volitile memory, which means it won't loose it's contents when the power goes out. You're more likely to see PRAM on mobile devices than in your computer. It looks like it's more of a competition for SD, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, although from what the article said, it's more likely to turn up in cell phones and other similar devices.

    Let's assume for a minute that it was being aimed at the computer industry. First, chipsets supporting PRAM would be required. Secondly, voltage support would be important. Third, the DDR or DDR2 PCB (Printed Circuit Board) are a different class of RAM than PRAM. RDRAM is 184-pins as well, but the pin-out is different. RDRAM signaling is different than DDR, despite that they are both DRAM technologies.
     
  4. Swansen

    Swansen The Ninj

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    Oh wow, well i must have completely missed the fact that it was removble storage, well in that case thats really cool then, flash memory is already really fast and if they can make a larger faster, cheaper removable storage than thats really cool.
    on a side note, i knew that information i just failed to realize that it was a removable device, instead of sytem ram.
     

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