Phase Change Memory: A New Memory Enables New Memory Usage Models

PCM is both a sustaining technology and a disruptive technology. These two aspects can be complementarily considered to speed up PCM market penetration. In addition PCM can be exploited by the memory system and by the convergence of consumer, computer and communication electronic systems. Some topics of PCM penetration in different memory systems have been described. The caching of the existing memory technologies, reducing the overall system cost and system complexity will be the compelling motivation. Bandwidth will drive the sustaining side of PCM in code and data transfer applications, while reduction in power dissipation will represent a further added value of this technology.