Numonyx (Intel and STMicroelectronics) already shipping phase-change memory samples

We hear this new phase-change memory stuff is awful special, which is why we're hoping to get our hands on some now that Numonyx (the "pospective" company founded last year by Intel and STMicroelectronics to make the stuff), is apparently shipping "Alverstone"-codenamed prototypes. Of course, with progress comes hype: according to Ed Doller, Numonyx's "prospective" CTO, "This is the most significant non-volatile memory advancement in 40 years." Show us the memory!

[asphixiated @ Feb 7th 2008 3:23AM]

wow that was quick.. but i wonder whatever happend to MRAM (magnetic RAM)

[Brian @ Feb 7th 2008 1:23PM]

MRAM is here. Want to buy some?

MRAM:
http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/homepage.jsp?nodeId=015424

[Michael Nelson @ Feb 7th 2008 3:35AM]

I have an Engadget addiction and I don't want help.

[Passarinhuu @ Feb 7th 2008 8:50AM]

I just hope you get an overdose. This type of comment is starting to become anoying...

[Brian @ Feb 7th 2008 3:46AM]

Okay... so what have these guys claimed to do that makes this ram so revolutionary?

[asphixiated @ Feb 7th 2008 4:36AM]

unlike conventional RAM, phase change ram is non-volitile. Which means that the contents are not destroyed once your cut the power to your machine.

If you can store the contents of your RAM on your computer after it is shut off, this means that you can have crazy stuff like instaneous boot into OS, as your computer will not have to rely on your harddrive to load the system files.

[Nathan @ Feb 7th 2008 4:39AM]

Don't forget SSD drives with the access latency of RAM, that's the thing I am looking forward too.

[EMoShunz @ Feb 7th 2008 9:00AM]

problem is that this stuff won't work in canada for very long. the conservative government here keeps reducing the gst, at this rate it will be non-existent in 5 years :P
seriously though, i'm excited about this ram.

[ssdforums @ Feb 7th 2008 11:58AM]

I wonder how this technology will stack up vs. SSD. It will probably be all driven based off of cost... but competition is almost always good

[manny @ Feb 7th 2008 12:43PM]

I dont believe this technology will become cost effective in high densities for a very long time. That leaves the Nor market as the most likely target which makes sense considering Intel just got rid of their Nor division.

[dean @ Feb 7th 2008 4:03PM]

Well, it will first be in military and space projects, but we will eventually get it.