Tech they ought to have.

Vince wrote:3D Xpoint memory is storage, not RAM. Unlike RAM and like flash memory, it retains data when powered off. Also like flash, you can only write to it so many times before it starts becoming unreliable.

I know! That was my point. But it´s getting toted around by many as if it could right off replace RAM.

Tenshinai wrote:

Vince wrote:3D Xpoint memory is storage, not RAM. Unlike RAM and like flash memory, it retains data when powered off. Also like flash, you can only write to it so many times before it starts becoming unreliable.

I know! That was my point. But it´s getting toted around by many as if it could right off replace RAM.

You are both misguided shall we say.

Computer Architecture 101: Remember RAM is only needed because the HDD are too damned slow to begin with. Old computers didn't even HAVE RAM. I mean ancient computers that are probably older than you are. RAM is NOT necessary for a computer to run. Everyone quickly saw the need for it though as they soon discovered that the I/O to the HDD(tape, erm wire... ) was the bottleneck.

Intel/Micron stated it as RAM to begin with. Why? Because when ~ memory is fast enough and has ~ enough write cycle durability, YOU DO NOT NEED a HDD/SSD at all. In fact, you do not need RAM at all. The two become one. The memory is not "random" anymore. You already know where stuff is stored. The number of read/write iterations drops drastically.

You see, currently DRAM effectively has ~infinite write cycles(they don't but...), except no one ever uses this durability. Not even giant server farms. CPU's likewise die due to tunneling wear. The motherboard caps die and the CPU dies long before DRAM does. The HDD/SSD die very quickly in comparison to the DRAM as well.

So, the most expensive components, CPU, HDD, MB, all die long before the RAM does. So, why bother having one component that lasts a hundred times longer than the MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE components? It is stupid and it more expensive as one now has to have an extra component tagging along that honestly no one really wants to begin with.

Anything that will be "RAM" in the future will all be on die where you might notice, more and more is being placed in ever increasing number in each generation of CPU. Of course if Intel/Micron get their way, the 3D point will replace that as well, though I doubt it due to complexity if nothing else.

Of course we have heard of miracle RAM/HDD before that never materialized. We shall see.