IBM Announces Computer Memory Breakthrough

Phase change memory is up to 100 times faster than NAND Flash, and it lasts up to 1000 times longer.

Computerworld: IBM has developed a new type of computer memory called phase change memory (PCM) that could replace the NAND flash used in solid state drives and many mobile devices. Like NAND flash, PCM continues to save data even when the power supply to the chip is off. However, PCM can write data 100 times faster than NAND flash. Also, while NAND flash wears out after 5,000 to 10,000 write cycles in consumer products and up to 100,000 cycles in enterprise-class products, PCM will live through 5 million write cycles.

Possible uses for the chip include storage for enterprise applications, storage for cloud-based services and as a supplement to DRAM.

Tags: chips

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