Universal computer memory that's both super-fast and energy efficient is one step closer to reality after scientists built an"extremely" stable prototype using a completely new material.
Several technical hurdles remain before a universal memory that combines the speed of RAM and the long-term memory of flash storage is commercially viable. But this prototype is as close as anybody has come, the scientists wrote in their paper. The GST467 memory devices achieved fast speeds while consuming very little power — with heat confined to the material — the researchers found. They also reported it can theoretically retain data for more than 10 years — even at temperatures above 248 degrees Fahrenheit . This"goes beyond the fundamental trade-off for PCM technology" and gives rise to"superior device performance," the scientists said.
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