Hey, Intel and Micron: XPoint is phase-change memory, right? Or is it? Yes. No. Yes So, is XPoint memory phase-change memory ... or not? An IM Flash Technologies co-CEO just gave a strong signal it might be phase-change, but doubt remains as Intel and Micron have kept their secret process ingredient hidden. IMFT is the Intel/Micron joint venture to manufacture flash chips in Lehi, Utah. Guy Blalock and Keyvan …
For what it's worth, memristor arrays are apparently used in some small embedded devices.
Given the embedded market usually going for "cheap" and "reliable", it may mean that they're able to fab small sizes but are having trouble reliably making 'em large enough to be worthwhile selling as a standalone item.
While XPoint does work through a phase change, its behavior is different from PCM. Since PCM works through the relative resistance of the amorphous/crystalline material itself, it is slower to write (you have to get the state within the tolerance) and slower to read. It also suffers from wear out as the ability to be sufficiently exact breaks down over time (I am simplifying of course). On the plus side, it allows for multi-bit cells based on intermediate states.
XPoint, the phase change is just a mechanism to allow or block the wire through the cell. This means that reading and writing are much faster, and there is less wear out risk, but there are no intermediate states for multi-bit cells.
Since the behavior is different, I'm sure the marketing guy did his job and told the engineers to give it a new name and avoid the words phase change. In this case it is the right decision as knowledge of PCM would lead you away from understanding the behavior of these new cells.
Can they build it into a product, and will the product be successful? That's the really interesting question to me. As the author noted, Intel and Micron are adding a new memory product that needs to sit in a new "spot" in a computer architecture. Where Intel thinks it should go in has me more curious than what's in the magic black box, personally.
The idea of FinFETs has been around long enough for the patents to expire. When process shrinkage made FinFETs worth the effort, Intel called them 3D-transistors. I assume Intel's PCM will get a new TLA so it can be covered with fresh patents.
Very long ago somewhere east, when there is little food, people had to eat chicken feet. It doesn’t taste very good and look dirty, but it is better than grass. Then two chiefs found a tasty way to prepare them, and called it ‘Phoenix Claws’.
http://go-yumcha.blogspot.sg/2009/03/chicken-feet-aka-phoenix-claws-matter.html
<font size=”.1”> Disclaimer: All characters & events here are entirely fictional. You hereby agreed you don’t believe this article. </font>
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