Flash Memory for Intel Chipset, 2006-10-19 - Your reactions

[linathael]

According to Dailytech, Intel will add in its next generation of mobile chipset a specific NAND flash memory, known as "Robson" technology. If this is not new (see our previous report), it seems that the amount of NAND flash to be installed could be modified by simply swapping modules. EOM could reduce the cost of their computers by having 512MB of NAND flash instead of the 1GB originally planned for the Robson technology. One can easily imagine, when this technology becomes widely used, to have the opportunity to get 2 or 4GB of NAND flash modules to improve even more performance.

Robson technology is dedicated to speed up booting procedure, as well as improving files access by storing them in the NAND module instead of having to retrieve them from the HD. This will of course be useful for files that are often called by the system or by some applications. This is of course also a way to save power for mobile platform. It will work synergistically with increased cache memory in future HD.

Robson technology should be incorporated in "Santa-Clara" platform, the one that will replace the current Napa platform currently used with Core Duo (Yonah) and Core 2 Duo (Merom). Intel is also looking for a desktop-dedicated version of Robson.

[translation by Linathael]