Intel Corp. and Micron Technology claim to have invented a new class of memory, and if the specs are to be believed, it could be the next big thing.
Called 3D XPoint and now in production is non-volatile, with speeds of 1,000 times faster than flash, and ten times more dense than conventional memory, according to Intel.
“3D XPoint technology is a major breakthrough in memory process technology and the first new memory category since the introduction of NAND flash in 1989,” Intel said in a statement.
It boasted that the technology, which is a result of over a decade of research and development, also has 1,000 more endurance than NAND, which is seeing increased market adoption today.
The name of the new technology comes from its three-dimensional checkerboard-like shape, which has no transistors.
“Memory cells sit at the intersection of word lines and bit lines, allowing the cells to be addressed individually,” the company said. “As a result, data can be written and read in small sizes, leading to faster and more efficient read/write processes.”
The companies are envisioning applications ranging from machine learning to instant data analytics, fraud detection, healthcare and disease tracking and even 8K gaming.
