3D Xpoint Memory: Faster-than-flash Storage

Intel and Micron say 3D Xpoint is the first new "mainstream" type of memory since Nand flash in 1989

A new kind of memory technology is going into production, which is up to 1,000 times faster than the Nand flash storage used in memory cards and computers' solid state drives (SSDs). The innovation is called 3D XPoint, and is the invention of Intel and Micron.

The two US companies predict a wide range of benefits, from speeding up scientific research to making more elaborate video games. If all goes to plan, the first products to feature 3D XPoint (pronounced cross-point) will go on sale next year. Its price has yet to be announced.

3D XPoint retains data when the power is switched off - one of its key advantages over RAM (random access memory), which remains faster. Rather than pitch it as a replacement for either flash storage or RAM, the company suggests it will be used alongside them to hold certain data "closer" to a processor so that it can be accessed more quickly than before.

Copying the huge amounts of information involved backwards and forwards makes this an extremely time-intensive activity at present. Faster storage would also help cloud services better handle big files. That could be helpful in the future, for example, if we wanted to stream 8K ultra-high definition video clips without experiencing lags at their start.

At present, level designs are limited by how much data can be stored in the RAM - or, strictly, a type of RAM chip called dynamic RAM (DRAM). That's why players sometimes have to halt their play while they wait for the machine to load a new section. But if the data can be loaded more quickly from 3D XPoint, the developers should, in theory, be able to deliver them bigger, open worlds and a more seamless experience.

3D Xpoint is a type of "persistent memory" - meaning it retains data stored on it when the power is switched off, unlike RAM
The suggestion is the new technology will normally be used instead as an intermediary step. Rather than copy data directly from the slower types of storage into RAM, programs will anticipate what data is likely to be needed and then transfer it in advance to the 3D XPoint.

As a metaphor, imagine a furniture retailer keeps most of its goods in a distant hub that is cheap to run but has slow road links. It would make sense for it to build a second smaller depot on land that is more expensive but has motorway access, where it could store a selection of its most in-demand items. As a result, it should take less time to restock stores with bestselling goods. 

RAM's speed advantage over traditional storage has long made it the chip of choice to funnel data directly into processors. However, because it is relatively expensive to produce, computer makers tend to restrict how much they include. Each megabyte of 3D Xpoint will certainly be significantly cheaper than the equivalent amount of RAM. And the new technology has the added advantage of being non-volatile, meaning it does not "forget" information when the power is switched off.

Intel and Micron spent more than a decade researching 3D Xpoint before it was ready to go into production Many users have already experienced faster switch-on times on new computers thanks to such files being kept on SSDs rather than disk drives. 

Whether that proves tempting will depend on exactly what 3D Xpoint costs and just how precious your time is.
BBC:http://http://bbc.in/1MUeNmH