Analyzing Intel-Micron 3D XPoint: The Next Generation Non-Volatile Mem
Analyzing Intel-Micron 3D XPoint: The Next Generation Non-Volatile Mem
Posted: 02 Aug 2015
Analyzing Intel-Micron 3D XPoint: The Next Generation Non-Volatile Memory
The current mainstream memory technologies, namely DRAM (quick memory accessed by the processor) and NAND (solid-state storage), have been around for decades. While the cell designs have evolved over the years to allow scaling to 20nm and below, the fundamental physics behind DRAM and NAND operation haven't changed a bit and both technologies have their unique technological limitations. DRAM offers nanosecond-level latency and unlimited endurance, but this comes at the cost of large cell size, cell volatility, and power consumption. Since DRAM cells need to be constantly refreshed, the cells don't retain data in an off state, requiring quite a bit of power and making DRAM unsuitable for permanent storage. NAND, on the other hand, has much higher latency (especially write operations) and has a limited number of write cycles, but the cells are non-volatile and the structure is much more efficient, enabling low cost and suitability for storage.
Analyzing Intel-Micron 3D XPoint: The Next Generation Non-Volatile Memory
The current mainstream memory technologies, namely DRAM (quick memory accessed by the processor) and NAND (solid-state storage), have been around for decades. While the cell designs have evolved over the years to allow scaling to 20nm and below, the fundamental physics behind DRAM and NAND operation haven't changed a bit and both technologies have their unique technological limitations. DRAM offers nanosecond-level latency and unlimited endurance, but this comes at the cost of large cell size, cell volatility, and power consumption. Since DRAM cells need to be constantly refreshed, the cells don't retain data in an off state, requiring quite a bit of power and making DRAM unsuitable for permanent storage. NAND, on the other hand, has much higher latency (especially write operations) and has a limited number of write cycles, but the cells are non-volatile and the structure is much more efficient, enabling low cost and suitability for storage.
I have read several times that NAND has a limited number of write cycles, and assume that one day my C: drive which is on a Crucial 256 GB SSD will suddenly pack up and I would need to buy another one and restore from a recent System Image.
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: Gigabyte ATX case with 500 W power supply GZ-M1 OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit CPU: Intel Pentium Edition G3220 3.0 GHz Motherboard: Gigabyte Socket 1150 MicroATX Mot Ultra Durable, GA-H81M-S2H Memory: 8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz DIMM Graphics Card: Not Known Sound Card: Not known Monitor(s) Displays: Samsung LS24D590 23.6" Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Keyboard: Accuratus 301 USB Compact, white. Mouse: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse v2.0, two-button, tethered PSU: 500 W Case: Gigabyte ATX case Cooling: Several fans! Hard Drives: 256 GB Solid State Drive (C: on which Windows 7 is installed)-
1 TB internal conventional HD (X:)-
Two WD "Elements" " 2TB USB drives as backups Internet Speed: 10 to 12 Mb per second Browser: Firefox (ocassionally Safari) Antivirus: Kaspersky Internet Security 2016, Malwarebytes (paid) Other Info: The 256 GB SSD (C:) also has Adobe Photoshop CS6 and InDesign CS6, MS Office, Adobe Lightroom, and other small programs.
While they do have a limited number of write cycles, between their over provisioning, and their natural endurance, it could be quite a long time. Ten, twenty years? Assuming they don't just fail as electronics sometimes do. Their endurance is likely not much of a consideration:
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: Gigabyte ATX case with 500 W power supply GZ-M1 OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit CPU: Intel Pentium Edition G3220 3.0 GHz Motherboard: Gigabyte Socket 1150 MicroATX Mot Ultra Durable, GA-H81M-S2H Memory: 8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz DIMM Graphics Card: Not Known Sound Card: Not known Monitor(s) Displays: Samsung LS24D590 23.6" Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Keyboard: Accuratus 301 USB Compact, white. Mouse: Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse v2.0, two-button, tethered PSU: 500 W Case: Gigabyte ATX case Cooling: Several fans! Hard Drives: 256 GB Solid State Drive (C: on which Windows 7 is installed)-
1 TB internal conventional HD (X:)-
Two WD "Elements" " 2TB USB drives as backups Internet Speed: 10 to 12 Mb per second Browser: Firefox (ocassionally Safari) Antivirus: Kaspersky Internet Security 2016, Malwarebytes (paid) Other Info: The 256 GB SSD (C:) also has Adobe Photoshop CS6 and InDesign CS6, MS Office, Adobe Lightroom, and other small programs.