Intel’s venture with PRAM is continuing and during the week that has passed it has demonstrated the technology for the first time. PRAM, phase-change memory, seems to be one of the most likely technologies to replace the popular flash memory, but perhaps even the DRAM technology. PRAM is namely a none-volatile memory and can store data without power, just like flash memory. But PRAM will also offer considerably better read/write speeds than flash and in the end it may even be enough compete with DRAM. In a perfect world we can imagine a Solid State Drive with PRAM circuits that can store data even when it’s turned off, while also sporting DRAM-like transfer rates.
there’s not telling what the future will look like, but you can’t deny the fact that PRAM is looking mighty promising and Intel is going to continue improving the technology, which hopefully means that we will see more of it very soon.
“Intel and other companies are counting on PRAM to replace both NOR and NAND flash memory to generate the demand required to produce the new memory chips in volume, and drive down costs.”
