Intel, Micron Develop Memory Technology 1,000 Times Faster Than NAND

Intel and Micron Technology unveiled a nonvolatile memory called 3D XPoint that promises access to large sets of data at speeds up to 1,000 times faster than current technology. The companies called 3D XPoint the “first new memory category since the introduction of NAND flash in 1989.” The vast amount of data made possible by connected devices and digital services has to be stored and analyzed very quickly, said the companies, and 3D XPoint technology combines the performance, density, power, nonvolatility and cost benefits “of all available memory technologies on the market today,” they said. It has 1,000 times the endurance of NAND with 10 times the density, they said. “For decades, the industry has searched for ways to reduce the lag time between the processor and data to allow much faster analysis,” said Rob Crooke, general manager, Intel’s nonvolatile memory solutions group. Micron President Mark Adams said the new class of nonvolatile memory “allows for quick access to enormous data sets and enables entirely new applications.” Use cases include retail where stores could use 3D XPoint technology to quickly identify fraud detection patterns in financial transactions, they said. For PCs, 3D XPoint technology could enable faster interactive social media and collaboration along with more immersive 8K gaming experiences, they said. The technology’s nonvolatile nature makes it useful for low-latency storage applications since data is not erased when the device is powered off, said the companies. Intel and Micron will sample 3D XPoint technology later this year with select customers, and each company is developing its own products based on the technology.