Intel Corporation and Micron Technology have unveiled 3D XPoint technology, a non-volatile
memory that has the potential to revolutionize any device, application or service that benefits
from fast access to large sets of data.
Now in production, 3D XPoint technology is a major breakthrough in memory process technology
and the first new memory category since the introduction of NAND flash in 1989.
3D XPoint technology combines the performance, density, power, non-volatility and cost advantages
of all available memory technologies on the market today. The technology is up to 1,000
times faster and has up to 1,000 times greater endurance than NAND, and is 10 times denser
than conventional memory.
you could unleash the power of your processor instead of working at a fraction
of its potential like today
Eliminating them bottleneck requires better storage memory
that is fast, inexpensive and non-volatile. So your data doesn't go
away when your power does. DRAM memory is great, because it's a very fast
but it's also very expensive and its volatile
And unlike many silicon components DRAM density
isn't doubling every two years so it's hitting a wall
On the other hand NAND memory found in today's SSDs
is both inexpensive and non-volatile,
and while it's lightning fast compared to other storage technologies
after thirteen hundred times faster than Hard drives
it's still about fifteen hundred times slower than DRAM
but get ready, we're about to shatter today's rules
in a very big way, thanks to some breakthrough engineering we've been
working on
soon for the first time ever will be able to work with computers with memory
that's fast
and inexpensive
and non-volatile. Intel engineers have helped design the next generation
non-volatile memory
called 3D Xpoint (Crosspoint), something many experts said was impossible
and this new technology isn't just twice as fast
or even ten times faster than NAND, its up to 1,000 times faster
so how we do it? To make 3D Xpoint inexpensive
we needed to pack lots of capacity into a tiny footprint
we started by slicing sub microscopic layers and materials
into columns each containing a memory cell and selector
then we connected those columns using an innovative crosspoint structure
consisting of perpendicular wires that enables memory cells to be individually
addressed by selecting one layer on top
and another at the bottom. we can stack these memory grids three-dimensionally
to maximize density
and whereas the DRAM requires a transistor at each memory cell
to access or modify the cell, making the DRAM big
and expensive. Each 3D crosspoint memory cell can be written to or read by simply
varying the volatage sent to its selector,
completely eliminating the need for transistors
This simple, stackable transistor as designed
enables 3D crosspoint to pack up to ten times more capacity than DRAM
in the same space, greatly reducing cost. when it comes to memory performance
low latency is the key whereas in NAND latency is measured in tens of
microseconds
3D Crosspoint technologies latency is measured in tens of nanoseconds
a tiny fraction of NAND's wait time, this makes 3D crosspoint ideal for
high-performance SSD storage
delivering up to ten times the performance NAND across a PCIE
NBME interface
3D crosspoint technologies life span is not significantly impacted by
how many
write cycles that can endure which means it can simultaneously serve as a single,
high-speed, high-capacity pool system and storage memory
there you have it a truly disruptive memory technology that's fast,
inexpensive and non-volatile.
As the digital world quickly grows, lage amount of digital data is getting created. 3D XPoint
technology can turn that huge amount of data into valuable information in nanoseconds.
For example, retailers may use 3D XPoint technology to more quickly identify fraud detection patterns
in financial transactions; healthcare researchers could process and analyze larger data sets
in real time, accelerating complex tasks such as genetic analysis and disease tracking.
The performance benefits of 3D XPoint technology could also enhance the PC experience, allowing
consumers to enjoy faster interactive social media and collaboration as well as more immersive
gaming experience
The non-volatile nature of the technology also makes it a great choice for a variety
of low-latency storage applications since data is not erased when the device is powered
off
The innovative, transistor-less cross point architecture creates a three-dimensional checkerboard
where memory cells sit at the intersection of word lines and bit lines, allowing the
cells to be addressed individually. As a result, data can be written and read in small sizes,
leading to faster and more efficient read/write processes.
This new technology makes new innovations possible in applications ranging from machine
learning to real-time tracking of diseases and immersive 8K gaming.