Intel and Numonyx building PCM storage devices

It is a revolutionary technology that offers lot many advantages over the existing storage technology

Finally, we are converging on getting our hands to the next generation memory revolution. Intel and Numonyx, a joint collaboration among Intel Inc., ST Mircoelectronics, and Franscisco partners, are going to come up with a phase-change memory (PCM) quite soon. Numonyx was created in order to bring out products in NOR-NAND memory and PCM devices which are scalable & have high density, that could outdo even Flash memory one day. Other than flash, PCM uses the characteristics of chalcogenide glass, switching the state of the material between crystalline and amorphous through heat. The change of state results in a change of its electrical resistivity and is the underlying concept of storing data with this technology.

Intel has already revealed a PCM chip called ‘Alverstone’ having a 256 MB multi-level (2 bit) cell structure manufacturd in 90nm. Since no electrical power is required to maintain either phase of the material, "Phase-change" memory is non-volatile by nature. A PCM is able to switch over 500 times faster than flash, while using less than half the power required to write data to a cell. It  works equally well for executing code and storing large amounts of data, giving it capabilities of both flash memory and DRAM (dynamic RAM). This means PCM can execute code with performance, store larger amounts of memory and sustain millions of read/write cycles.

PCM is also a promising technology in the military and aerospace industries where radiation effects make the use of standard non-volatile memories such as Flash impractical. PCM memory devices have been introduced by BAE Systems, referred to as C-RAM, claiming excellent radiation tolerance (rad-hard) and latchup immunity. Additionally, BAE claims a write cycle endurance of 10⁸, which will allow it to be a contender for replacing PROMs and EEPROMs in space systems.

It might also be noted that another camp consisting of a joint venture among IBM labs, Macronix and Qimonda are also in the race to come out with a PCM device very soon and grab te market share. Apart from this conglomerate Samsung Electronics and Nanochip are also working hard to come up with a PCM product for commercial use.

Who so ever be the winner in this race, consumers are in for some bright surprises. If this happens users will be able to get your hands on a $50 6 TB hard disk by 2014. This could easily change the future of memory devices.

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