Intel rolls out phase-change chips
Date : 02 06 2008 Category : Technology
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Shaun Nichols in California, vnunet.com, Thursday 7 February 2008 at 00:00:00
Prototype 'Alverstone' memory chips unveiled
Intel has announced its first prototype phase-change memory (PCM) chips. Code-named 'Alverstone' the new chips offer higher read and write speeds, and have a longer lifespan than current transistor-based Flash memory chips. The new chips were designed as a joint effort between Intel and STMicroelectronics. The two companies plan to make Alverstone the cornerstone of Numonyx, a new chip business formed from elements of each company. The deal is expected to close later this year. PCM chips store each bit of data in a small piece of chalcogenide glass which changes states between crystalline and amorphous as opposed to an open or closed transistor. The chips do not require a constant flow of electricity to retain data, making them an ideal replacement for Flash memory. "This is the most significant non-volatile memory advancement in 40 years," said Ed Doller, chief technology officer-designate at Numonyx. "There have been plenty of attempts to find and develop new non-volatile memory technologies [but] PCM provides the most compelling solution." The prototype Alverstone chips will be provided to system builders to design new devices for release when the PCM chips enter production.
