Numonyx Introduces New Phase Change Memory Devices

[btarunr]

Numonyx B.V. introduced a set of innovative products today based on the new class of memory technology called phase change memory (PCM). The new devices deliver higher performance, endurance and simplicity for wired and wireless communications, consumer electronics, PCs, and other embedded applications.

The new embedded memory products blend many attributes associated with flash memory, as well as RAM and EEPROM, while delivering new capabilities in a single device. Introduced as the newly branded Numonyx Omneo PCM, today’s new products promise up to 300 times faster write speeds and ten times more write endurance than today’s flash memory.



“Not since flash memory was introduced in 1988 has the industry seen a new, high-density memory technology,” said Glen Hawk, Numonyx vice president and general manager of the Embedded Business Group. “Today, designers have to use different memory types for code storage and execution, as well as data storage. Now, with Numonyx Omneo PCM, they have a simple, one-device solution.”

Today’s product introductions include support for the serial peripheral interface (Omneo P5Q PCM) as well as parallel NOR interface (Omneo P8P PCM). Both take full advantage of the benefits of the new PCM technology while offering compatibility with these industry standard interfaces.

Numonyx Omneo P5Q PCM
Omneo P5Q PCM is a 90nm device delivering high-speed SPI-compatibility.
The Omneo P5Q PCM combines serial NOR flash memory and EEPROM technology benefits into one by delivering byte alterability, faster programming times and greater endurance.

Byte alterability provides for easier data manipulation and software simplification by eliminating the need for erasing large blocks of data.

The over-write or “no-erase” function enables engineers and designers to simplify software designs and accelerate system performance, improving the time it takes to program a device by up to 300 times. The new Omneo P5Q product is able to write up to ten times more data than flash memory by delivering one million write cycles.

Numonyx Omneo P8P PCM
The Numonyx P8P PCM is the second release of the 90nm 128Mb parallel product by Numonyx. The first release was introduced in December 2008.

The first version supported 100,000 write cycles. The new release has been improved to achieve one million write cycles. Both products are available now in volume.

Numonyx Omneo is “Everywhere, New”
Numonyx also unveiled a new brand name for its phase change memory products created for embedded applications – Numonyx Omneo PCM. The applications-specific brand approach supports the company’s effort to develop memory solutions that are purpose-built to meet specific customer applications needs by segment.

“Because PCM acts differently and solves the unique problems of various segments, Numonyx decided to communicate the uniqueness of our new products with distinctive brand names,” said Raymond Solone, senior director of corporate marketing at Numonyx. “With the new features and benefits PCM technology provides our customers, we sought a product brand strategy that directly connects the value PCM brings to the applications and segments that can take advantage of the technology. PCM is a extraordinary memory technology.”

The Omneo brand name was selected to represent the inherent ability of PCM to fit everywhere in the embedded design world (“omni”) and to showcase this new class of memory (“neo”). From consumer electronics to industrial applications, the Omneo family of PCM products are built to enable innovative approaches to embedded memory system designs as well as offer long-term scalability and reliability.

[Mussels]

i like it, but i wont care much until it comes out for standard home PC use

[Binge]

Do want Phase Change computer memory. No more shut-downs unless necessary.

[RejZoR]

I bet it'll have even more ridiculous price than current SSD drives. And even if it won't have, we'll be at square one with prices again. But i'd really like to have SSD where you don't have to worry about stupid wearing and TRIM. Something this might help with, but it's still far far away.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by Binge

Do want Phase Change computer memory. No more shut-downs unless necessary.

lost power? dont worry! it'll all be there when it turns back on and boots instantly

[BazookaJoe]

I think the easiest way to start getting this product moving is USB3 Flash drives... Or am I crazy?

It claims to be nice & fast - and its a super easy way of getting it to start selling without changing accepted conventions & requiring special Mo'Bo's and such...

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by BazookaJoe

I think the easiest way to start getting this product moving is USB3 Flash drives... Or am I crazy?

It claims to be nice & fast - and its a super easy way of getting it to start selling without changing accepted conventions & requiring special Mo'Bo's and such...

its more like a replacement for system ram, than for storage.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by Mussels

lost power? dont worry! it'll all be there when it turns back on and boots instantly

Or, your ram is ALSO your hard drive. Can't wait for that day to come. Last I/O bottleneck removed.

[Solaris17]

This seems like its not really ment to come to RAM. I mean not until maximum write is improved. Am I wrong in thinking leaving this running memtest all night would wear it out beyond usability? 1 million write ops isnt alot in the RAM universe.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by Solaris17

This seems like its not really ment to come to RAM. I mean not until maximum write is improved. Am I wrong in thinking leaving this running memtest all night would wear it out beyond usability? 1 million write ops isnt alot in the RAM universe.

Yet.

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I'm guessing memory density limitations are why it's being considered more of a ram replacement?

[EarlZ]

Thats gonna be a while was we dont see SSD's replacing mechanical harddrives for the next 10years

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by EarlZ

Thats gonna be a while was we dont see SSD's replacing mechanical harddrives for the next 10years

this is going to be a RAM replacement before its an SSD replacement.

[RejZoR]

I don't see mentioning anything that would suggest replacement of RAM with this technology.
It's just mentioning high write count and no need for TRIM. With higher transfer rates.
That's what i see as next gen SSD technology. Not RAM replacement. RAM today is really fast and doesn't have any read/write limits. Density is really not an issue, plus triple channel allows 12GB using 2GB modules or 24GB using 4GB modules (still expensive). That's more than enough for most users.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by RejZoR

I don't see mentioning anything that would suggest replacement of RAM with this technology.
It's just mentioning high write count and no need for TRIM. With higher transfer rates.
That's what i see as next gen SSD technology. Not RAM replacement. RAM today is really fast and doesn't have any read/write limits. Density is really not an issue, plus triple channel allows 12GB using 2GB modules or 24GB using 4GB modules (still expensive). That's more than enough for most users.

previous releases have mentioned it for RAM replacements.


Its the speed of system RAM, with the non-volatility of flash memory. its where the two seperate mediums (memory + storage) blend into one - see the comments above about instant boots from power off, and so on.

[Completely Bonkers]

^yes, RAM replacements, but not for regular PCs, but for, e.g., embedded devices, peripherals, scientific and military equipment.

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Perhaps it can be both... with some work. Maybe it could even be variable, say you have a 500 GB drive, you could just divide it up however you want for ram usage or storage space.

[WarEagleAU]

Think Phase Change Memory would work well in SSD type use?

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by LAN_deRf_HA

Perhaps it can be both... with some work. Maybe it could even be variable, say you have a 500 GB drive, you could just divide it up however you want for ram usage or storage space.

wont be needed, if your storage is so fast, you dont need the high speed buffer of RAM

[Steevo]

Everyone is missing the embedded part. This is like the ROM used to store bootcode, used to store firmware, BIOS, embedded applications. Like for a touch screen, a MRI machine, a DVD player, a printer, a phone, GPS devices.

I am excited by this as I have color touchscreens we use for multiple applications that I have to reprogram firmware multiple times a year, and the updates take about two hours per. Faster is better, plus faster boot and load times for the applications.

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Originally Posted by Mussels

wont be needed, if your storage is so fast, you dont need the high speed buffer of RAM

Well I'd think you'd need a segregated section for open program memory so you know how much storage you actually have, and so that people don't fill their drive up so much that it cripples their memory space for active programs.

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by Steevo

Everyone is missing the embedded part. This is like the ROM used to store bootcode, used to store firmware, BIOS, embedded applications. Like for a touch screen, a MRI machine, a DVD player, a printer, a phone, GPS devices.

I am excited by this as I have color touchscreens we use for multiple applications that I have to reprogram firmware multiple times a year, and the updates take about two hours per. Faster is better, plus faster boot and load times for the applications.

No we aren't. We are looking past that to possible future technologies. It's all but useless to most of us in it's current state.

Originally Posted by LAN_deRf_HA

Well I'd think you'd need a segregated section for open program memory so you know how much storage you actually have, and so that people don't fill their drive up so much that it cripples their memory space for active programs.

Set it up like a pagefile.