future RAM chips

Many companies are working on non-volatile memory technologies with byte addressable, random access capability. They are expected to initially provide an alternative to flash memory and compete with DRAM chips in certain applications.

The flash memory in common use is non-volatile, but it must be written in blocks somewhat like disk sectors, which makes it slower. DRAM memory can be written one byte at a time, but loses its content without power. Both have drawbacks the industry would love to eliminate. The memories under development use magnetic, phase change and carbon nanotube technologies (see MRAM, NRAM and phase change memory).

A DRAM Replacement?
Any RAM technology that replaces flash memory will be a huge success. However, if a non-volatile technology eventually succeeds in replacing DRAM chips, the main memory used in computers, it will dramatically change the way software is written. All operating systems and applications are designed to continuously save data to the disk. When main memory finally "remembers," many data elements would reside in memory at all times. In addition, computers would always be "instant-on" without wasting AC or battery power when not in use.