Memory PCRAM, PCM, PRAM

Conceived as a natural substitute for existing technologies of memory The non-volatile technology used by current mobile devices, these memories are based on crystal technology rather than silicon.

Question of acronyms

The phase change memory, known by its English acronym PCRAM or PRAM (Phase-Change Random Access Memory) or, also, very Commonly for PCM (Phase Change Memory), it also responds to other names: OUM (Ovonic Unified Memory), CRAM or C-RAM (Calcogenic RAM).

It is a memory based on chalcogenic crystals, which are those that change shape when heat is applied to them. As shape changes, so does the endurance that these same crystals present, being able then to determine, based on this resistance, states corresponding to zero and one, which are those used by the logic binary that allows electronic devices to work.

In the amorphous state, the resistance is higher, and represents the zero state, while in the crystalline state the resistance is lower and represents the binary state one.

This change of state is carried out with greater speed than in devices based on silicon technology, especially when we talk about the writing, an operation usually slower than the reading, which is also faster than silicon-based memories.

This technology is similar to what we find in CDs and DVD, and although in these cases the base material used is the same, what is manipulated in the case of these discs are the optical properties, and not the electrical resistance.

Another quality that these memories present is that their operational life is longer than that of traditional silicon memories.

Hopes for the future

Currently, the performance offered by the devices of storage based on PRAM memory is comparable and even inferior to those of other technologies such as flash, but the The upper limit to which they can be calculated is much higher, and it is a technology that is currently being starting to implement.

Also, we all know how the tech industry likes to squeeze out existing technologies before venture to launch new ones on the market, so that for the popularization of the CRAM it still has weather.

Devices with OUM type memories will be very fast especially in writing operations, so the immediate future of This type of solution is expected in the field of high-performance systems, such as servers, gaming, and high-end mobile devices. high.

Photos: iStock - Reptile8488 / J-Roman