3D XPoint#Production
{{Short description|Discontinued computer memory type}}
{{Memory types}}
File:2018 Pamięć Intel Optane 32GB.jpg card format]]
3D XPoint (pronounced three-D cross point) was a discontinued non-volatile memory (NVM) technology developed jointly by Intel and Micron Technology. It was announced in July 2015 and was available on the open market under the brand name Optane (Intel) from April 2017 to July 2022.{{cite web|title=Intel Launches Optane Memory M.2 Cache SSDs for Consumer Market
|url= https://www.anandtech.com/show/11227/intel-launches-optane-memory-m2-cache-ssds-for-client-market |website= AnandTech |date=27 March 2017|access-date=13 November 2017}} Bit storage is based on a change of bulk resistance, in conjunction with a stackable cross-grid data access array, using a technology known as Ovonic Threshold Switch (OTS). Initial prices were less than dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) but more than flash memory.{{cite web |work= Hot Hardware |first= Jason |last= Evangelho |url= http://hothardware.com/news/intel-and-micron-jointly-drop-disruptive-game-changing-3d-xpoint-cross-point-memory-1000x-faster-than-nand |title= Intel and Micron Jointly Unveil Disruptive, Game-Changing 3D XPoint Memory, 1000x Faster than NAND |quote= Intel's Rob Crooke explained, 'You could put the cost somewhere between NAND and DRAM.' |date= July 28, 2015 |access-date= January 21, 2016 |archive-date= August 15, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160815104527/http://hothardware.com/news/intel-and-micron-jointly-drop-disruptive-game-changing-3d-xpoint-cross-point-memory-1000x-faster-than-nand |url-status= dead }}
As a non-volatile memory, 3D XPoint had a number of features that distinguish it from other currently available RAM and NVRAM. Although the first generations of 3D XPoint were not especially large or fast, 3D XPoint was used to create some of the fastest{{Cite web|url=https://www.storagereview.com/review/intel-optane-ssd-p5800x-review|title=Intel Optane SSD P5800X Review|date=6 April 2021}} SSDs available as of 2019, with small-write latency. As the memory was inherently fast, and byte-addressable, techniques such as read-modify-write and caching used to enhance traditional SSDs are not needed to obtain high performance. In addition, chipsets such as Cascade Lake were designed with inbuilt support for 3D XPoint,{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} which allowed it to be used as a caching or acceleration disk, and it was also fast enough to be used as non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) or persistent memory in a DIMM package.
History
=Development=
Development of 3D XPoint began around 2012. Intel and Micron had developed other non-volatile phase-change memory (PCM) technologies previously;{{refn|group="note"|Intel and Numonyx presented 64 Gb stackable PCM chips in 2009.}} Mark Durcan of Micron said 3D XPoint architecture differs from previous offerings of PCM, and uses chalcogenide materials for both selector and storage parts of the memory cell that are faster and more stable than traditional PCM materials like GST. But today, it is thought of as a subset of ReRAM. According to patents a variety of materials can be used as the chalcogenide material.{{cite web | url=https://www.eetimes.com/patent-search-supports-view-3d-xpoint-based-on-phase-change/?_ga | title=Patent Search Supports View 3D XPoint Based on Phase-Change | date=31 July 2015 }}{{cite web | url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US8891280B2/en?oq=US8891280 | title=Interconnection for memory electrodes }}https://web.archive.org/web/20240902193350/https://files.futurememorystorage.com/proceedings/2017/20170808_FR12_Choe.pdf
3D XPoint has been stated to use electrical resistance and to be bit addressable. Similarities to the resistive random-access memory under development by Crossbar Inc. have been noted, but 3D XPoint used different storage physics. Specifically, transistors were replaced by threshold switches as selectors in the memory cells.https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/can-threshold-switches-replace-transistors-memory-cell-frederick-chen also at https://semiwiki.com/semiconductor-manufacturers/286317-can-threshold-switches-replace-transistors-in-the-memory-cell/ 3D XPoint developers indicated that it was based on changes in resistance of the bulk material. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich responded to ongoing questions on the XPoint material that the switching was based on "bulk material properties". Intel has stated that 3D XPoint does not use a phase-change or memristor technology, although this is disputed by independent reviewers.{{cite news|last1=Malventano|first1=Allyn|title=How 3D XPoint Phase-Change Memory Works|url=https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Editorial/How-3D-XPoint-Phase-Change-Memory-Works|access-date=8 June 2017|publisher=PC Perspective|date=2 June 2017}}
According to reverse engineering firm TechInsights, 3D XPoint used germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST) with low silicon content as the data storage material which is accessed by ovonic threshold switches (OTSes){{cite book | chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5424263 | doi=10.1109/IEDM.2009.5424263 | chapter=A stackable cross point Phase Change Memory | title=2009 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) | date=2009 | last1=Derchang Kau | last2=Tang | first2=Stephen | last3=Karpov | first3=Ilya V. | last4=Dodge | first4=Rick | last5=Klehn | first5=Brett | last6=Kalb | first6=Johannes A. | last7=Strand | first7=Jonathan | last8=Diaz | first8=Aleshandre | last9=Leung | first9=Nelson | last10=Wu | first10=Jack | last11=Sean Lee | last12=Langtry | first12=Tim | last13=Kuo-Wei Chang | last14=Papagianni | first14=Christina | last15=Jinwook Lee | last16=Hirst | first16=Jeremy | last17=Erra | first17=Swetha | last18=Flores | first18=Eddie | last19=Righos | first19=Nick | last20=Castro | first20=Hernan | last21=Spadini | first21=Gianpaolo | pages=1–4 | isbn=978-1-4244-5639-0 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.eetimes.com/intel-numonyx-claim-phase-change-memory-milestone/?_ga | title=Intel, Numonyx claim phase-change memory milestone | date=28 October 2009 }} made of ternary phased selenium-germanium-silicon with arsenic doping.
3D XPoint was the most widely produced standalone memory based on other than charge storage, whereas other alternative memories, like ReRAM or Magnetoresistive RAM, have so far only been widely developed on embedded platforms.{{Cite web|url=https://semiengineering.com/next-gen-memory-ramping-up/|title=Next-Gen Memory Ramping Up|first=Mark|last=LaPedus|date=August 16, 2018|website=Semiconductor Engineering}}
===Initial production===
In mid-2015, Intel announced the Optane brand for storage products based on 3D XPoint technology.{{citation | url = http://www.anandtech.com/show/9541/intel-announces-optane-storage-brand-for-3d-xpoint-products | work = AnandTech | first = Ryan | last = Smith | date = 18 Aug 2015 | title = Intel Announces Optane Storage Brand For 3D XPoint Products}} Micron (using the QuantX brand) estimated the memory to be sold for about half the price of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), but four to five times the price of flash memory.{{cite web |title= Micron reveals marketing details about 3D XPoint memory QuantX: Intel, Micron may have made a mistake announcing 3D XPoint a year ago |work= Computer World |date= August 9, 2016 |first= Lucas |last= Mearian |url= http://www.computerworld.com/article/3104675/data-storage/micron-reveals-3d-xpoint-memory-quantx.html |access-date= March 31, 2017 |archive-date= September 6, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170906001500/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3104675/data-storage/micron-reveals-3d-xpoint-memory-quantx.html |url-status= dead }} Initially, a wafer fabrication facility in Lehi, Utah, operated by IM Flash Technologies LLC (an Intel-Micron joint venture) made small quantities of 128 Gbit chips in 2015. They stack two 64 Gbit planes. In early 2016 mass production of the chips was expected in 12 to 18 months.
In early 2016, IM Flash announced that the first generation of solid-state drives would achieve 95000 IOPS throughput with 9 microsecond latency.{{citation| url = http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328682 | title = 3D XPoint Steps Into the Light| first = Rick| last = Merrick| date = 14 Jan 2016| work = EE Times}} This low latency significantly increases IOPS at low queue depths for random operations. At Intel Developer Forum 2016, Intel demonstrated PCI Express (PCIe) 140 GB development boards showing 2.4–3× improvement in benchmarks compared to PCIe NAND flash solid-state drives (SSDs).{{cite news|last1= Cutress |first1= Ian|title= Intel's 140 GB Optane 3D Xpoint PCIe SSD Spotted at IDF |url= http://www.anandtech.com/show/10604/intels-140gb-optane-3d-xpoint-pcie-ssd-spotted-at-idf |access-date= 26 August 2016 |publisher= Anandtech|date= 26 August 2016}} On March 19, 2017, Intel announced their first product: a PCIe card available in the second half of 2017.{{Cite news |title= Intel's first Optane SSD: 375 GB that you can also use as RAM |work= Ars Technica | first = Peter | last = Bright |date= March 19, 2017 |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/03/intels-first-optane-ssd-375gb-that-you-can-also-use-as-ram/ |access-date= March 31, 2017}}{{Cite news |title= Intel's first hyper-fast 3D drive is meant for servers | first = Jon | last = Figas |date= March 19, 2017 |work= En Gadget |url= https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/19/intel-optane-ssd/ |access-date= March 31, 2017 }}
=Reception=
Despite the initial lukewarm reception when first released, 3D XPoint – particularly in the form of Intel's Optane range – has been highly acclaimed and widely recommended for tasks where its specific features are of value, with reviewers such as Storage Review concluding in August 2018 that for low-latency workloads, 3D XPoint was producing 500,000 4K sustained IOPS for both reads and writes, with 3–15 microsecond latencies, and that at present "there is currently nothing [else] that comes close",{{cite web|url= https://www.storagereview.com/intel_optane_ssd_dc_p4800x_review |title=Intel Optane SSD DC P4800X Review |date= 31 July 2018 |website= Storage review |access-date=15 April 2019}} while Tom's Hardware described the Optane 900p in December 2017 as being like a "mythical creature" that must be seen to be believed, and which doubled the speed of the best previous consumer devices.{{cite web|url= https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-optane-ssd-900p-3d-xpoint,5292-2.html|title=Intel Optane SSD 900P 256GB Performance Testing |date= 4 December 2017 |website= Tom's Hardware|access-date=15 April 2019}} ServeTheHome concluded in 2017 that in read, write and mixed tests, Optane SSDs were consistently around 2.5× as fast as the best Intel datacentre SSDs which had preceded them, the P3700 NVMe.{{cite web|url= https://www.servethehome.com/intel-optane-hands-on-real-world-benchmark-and-test-results/ |title=Intel Optane: Hands-on Real World Benchmark and Test Results |first= Cliff |last=Robinson|date=24 April 2017|website= Serve thehome |access-date= 15 April 2019}} AnandTech noted that consumer Optane-based SSDs were similar in performance to the best non-3D-XPoint SSDs for large transfers, with both being "blown away" by the large transfer performance of enterprise Optane SSDs.{{cite web|url= https://www.anandtech.com/show/11210/the-intel-optane-memory-ssd-review-32gb-of-kaby-lake-caching |title= The Intel Optane Memory (SSD) Preview: 32GB of Kaby Lake Caching |first=Billy|last=Tallis |website= Anandtech |access-date=15 April 2019}}
=Sale of Lehi fab, and discontinuation=
On March 16, 2021, Micron announced that it would cease development of 3D XPoint in order to develop products based on Compute Express Link (CXL), due to a lack of demand.{{cite web | url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/micron-will-stop-making-3d-xpoint-memory-this-year?amp=true | title=Micron Will Stop Making 3D XPoint Memory This Year | date=17 March 2021 }}[https://investors.micron.com/news-releases/news-release-details/micron-updates-data-center-portfolio-strategy-address-growing Micron ceases 3D XPoint] The Lehi fab was never fully utilized, and was sold to Texas Instruments for USD 900 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/16558/micron-abandons-3d-xpoint-memory-technology|title=Micron Abandons 3D XPoint Memory Technology|first=Billy|last=Tallis|website=www.anandtech.com}}
Intel responded at the time that its ability to supply Intel Optane products would not be affected.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/micron-sell-3d-xpoint-fab-stop-development-intel|title=Micron to Sell 3D XPoint Memory Fab and Cease Further Development (Updated)|first=Paul Alcorn last|last=updated|date=March 16, 2021|website=Tom's Hardware}} However, Intel had already discontinued its consumer line of Optane products in January 2021.{{cite web|date=2021-01-19|title=Intel quietly kills its face-melting Optane desktop SSDs|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3604093/intel-quietly-kills-its-face-melting-optane-desktop-ssds.html |df=mdy-all|access-date=2021-02-15|website=PCWorld|language=en}} In July 2022, Intel announced the winding down of the Optane division, effectively discontinuing the development of 3D XPoint.{{cite web | url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/17515/intel-to-wind-down-optane-memory-business | title=Intel to Wind Down Optane Memory Business - 3D XPoint Storage Tech Reaches Its End }}[https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/29/intel_optane_memory_dead/ Why Intel killed its Optane memory business], The Register, 2022-07-22.
Compatibility
=Intel=
Intel distinguishes between "Intel Optane Memory" and "Intel Optane SSDs". As a memory component, Optane requires specific chipset and CPU support.{{cite web|url=https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000023994/memory-and-storage/intel-optane-memory.html|title=Intel Optane Memory: Before You Buy, Key Requirements|website=Intel|access-date=15 April 2019}} As an ordinary SSD, Optane is broadly compatible with a very wide range of systems, and its main requirements are much like any other SSD – ability to be plugged into the hardware, operating system, BIOS/UEFI and driver support for NVMe, and adequate cooling.{{cite web|url=https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025741/memory-and-storage/enthusiast-ssds.html|title=System Requirements for an Intel Optane SSD 900P Series Drive|website=Intel|access-date=15 April 2019}}
- As a standards-based NVMe-PCIe SSD: Optane devices can be used as the storage element of an ordinary solid-state drive (SSD), typically in M.2 card format, NVMe PCI Express format, or U.2 standalone format. When Optane is used as an ordinary SSD (in any of these formats), its compatibility requirements are the same as for any traditional SSD. Therefore, compatibility depends only upon whether the hardware, operating system and drivers can support NVMe and similar SSDs. Optane SSDs are therefore compatible with a wide range of older and newer chipsets and CPUs (including non-Intel chipsets and CPUs).
- As a memory or on-board acceleration device: Optane devices can also be used as NVDIMM (non volatile main memory) or for certain kinds of caching or accelerating roles, but unlike general SSD roles, this requires newer hardware, since the chipset and motherboard must be designed to work specifically with Optane in those roles.
=Micron=
Micron offered NVMe AIC SSD drives (QuantX X100{{Cite web|url=https://www.storagereview.com/micron_x100_nvme_ssd_3d_xpoint_unveiled|title=Micron X100 NVMe SSD (3D XPoint) Unveiled {{!}} StorageReview.com - Storage Reviews|date=2019-10-24|website=www.storagereview.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18|archive-date=2019-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218054837/https://www.storagereview.com/micron_x100_nvme_ssd_3d_xpoint_unveiled|url-status=dead}}) which maintained compatibility with NVMe capable systems. Native support as an acceleration device is not supported (although tiered storage can be used).{{Cite web|url=https://www.micron.com/products/advanced%20solutions/3d%20xpoint%20technology/x100|title=X100|website=www.micron.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18|archive-date=2020-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724194832/https://www.micron.com/products/advanced%20solutions/3d%20xpoint%20technology/x100|url-status=dead}}
See also
Notes
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References
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External links
- {{citation
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsioS35D-HY
| title = Intel Micron Webcast
| work = YouTube}}, 44 minutes
{{Intel}}
{{Primary storage technologies}}