14 DAY TRIAL // The biggest problem of dynamic random access memory is that all data stored on it is lost when power is cut. This can lead to file corruption and progress loss, which can be quite serious the bigger a business is. SMART modular decided to offer some RAM that didn't use data like this.
It couldn't just invent a new type of RAM though. There cannot be random access memory that doesn't lose data when power fails. Thus, the company has to jump through some hoops.
But jump it did, eventually settling on a new memory module design that, in addition to RAM chips, also has some NAND chips for backup purposes.
Essentially, through high-speed switching circuitry, the NAND chip makes a backup of whatever data is being processed at any given moment.
If power fails, progress can be recovered by the host system as soon as energy returns, because it will be stored on the NAND chip, the solid state memory that always retains the data.
Also, temporary power is provided to the module when energy is cut, via a hybrid supercap module, which can be tailored to individual application environments.
SMART Modular calls this the SafeStor technology. It has implemented it on the new DDR4-2133 NVDIMMs (non-volatile DIMMs).
Obviously, the new RAM works at a frequency of 2133 MHz, which is the standard DDR4 JEDEC specification. This also means that the power used is only 1.2V (much less than DDR3's 1.5V or 1.35V for low voltage).
In addition to NAND backup, temporary power provisions, and DDR4 performance and efficiency, the new DDR4-2133 NVDIMMs have an end-to-end error checking and correction capability. Data integrity is important during backup and restore operations after all.
All in all, compared to NVDIMM, DDR4 memory is supposed to be a RAM slot-mounted alternative to solid state drives, one with 1,000 times lower latency, 1,000 times higher data throughput, and no software overhead. You can even use it as a block device in RAID setups, or as an SSD mapping table.
SMART Modular is showcasing its DDR3 and DDR4 NVDIMMs at the Flash Memory Summit being held in Santa Clara, CA, August 5-7, 2014. Sadly, prices were not mentioned, probably because they are subject to negotiations between supplier and business / corporate customer. Intel and Supermicro have been helping with the promotion of DRAM-NAND combination devices, but this new invention might help reel others in.