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3D XPoint memory — 1000x faster than NAND
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3D XPoint memory — 1000x faster than NAND

by Vyncent ChanJuly 29, 2015
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Intel and Micron has collaborated to bring us 3D XPoint (pronounced cross point) memory which is claimed to be 1000x faster than the NAND flash used in SSDs and memory cards. Intel does not plan on replacing the NAND chips in SSDs with this new technology, but intends to use it to store certain data “closer” to the processor to make it more accessible. It will not be as fast as RAM, thus will not be replacing RAM, but will be cheaper per GB than RAM thus allowing 3D XPoint to be used as a fast cache before the data gets transferred to the RAM.

3D XPoint 3D

For NAND to rewrite data on a single bit, larger blocks of information have to be wiped and then rewritten to incorporate the changes. Intel executive Robert Crooke likens NAND to a “parking lot where you want to move one of the cars, but they are all jammed in”. NAND works by storing a charge inside a cell to represent a one, while 3D XPoint will change the properties of the material that makes up its memory cells to either having a high resistance to electricity to represent a one or a low resistance to represent a zero. This allows 3D XPoint’s memory cells to be addressed individually, speeding things up. It also allows 3D XPoint to be more durable than NAND.

3D XPoint

The name 3D XPoint refers to the fact the technology is made up of a 3D structure featuring layers of wires. On each layer, the wires run in parallel to each other, but at right-angles to those on the layer below. In between each layer are vertical sub-microscopic columns, which connect the points at which the wires criss-cross (cross point, get it?)

Each of these columns contains:

  • a “memory cell”, which can store a single bit of data. This represents either a one or a zero in binary code
  • a “selector”, which allows a specific memory cell to be read or rewritten. Access is controlled by varying the amount of voltage it receives via the wires

3D XPoint will not make NAND obsolete though. It will be pricier than the NAND used in SSDs for sometime, thus making them more practical as a cache to store large chunks of data from the storage drives before transferring them to the RAM. It will help to prevent pauses in games when moving across large detailed levels, for example. Map data will be moved from the slower storage drives to the 3D XPoint memory, before gradually being transferred over to the RAM when the character approaches the area, giving the player a seamless open-world experience.

Online gaming companies might want to substitute 3D Xpoint for RAM. At present, the amount of players that can be hosted on a single server is limited by the amount of RAM it contains. Switching to 3D Xpoint would cause only a small —and possibly unnoticeable—difference to the performance of many of the simpler titles. But it would radically increase the number of people that could be supported for the same outlay.

Another way 3D XPoint can be used is similar to how SSD has been used when it was still prohibitively expensive: as a boot drive. With the fast speeds of 3D XPoint, you will get a faster boot than what is possible with SSDs.

 

SOURCE: BBC

 

Pokdepinion: I still haven’t gotten even a slow” NAND SSD yet. 3D XPoint seems interesting but I wonder how will it be implemented for consumers. If it is meant to be used a cache for the RAM, I believe it should be integrated into the motherboard to maximize transfer speed, which will increase the cost of the motherboards.

 

 

About The Author
Vyncent Chan
Technology enthusiast, casual gamer, pharmacy graduate. Strongly opposes proprietary standards and always on the look out for incredible bang-for-buck.
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