Micron plans to integrate NAND flash along with DRAM on memory modules that ride the DDR4 bus. These so-called Hybrid DIMMs are expected to arrive in about 18 months, they will be more expensive than traditional solid state disks but will likely offer better performance with memory access timing measures in nano- rather than microseconds.
Further details about this technology can be read at EE Times.
Both OEMs and end users have been approaching Micron with applications for hybrid DIMMs including in-memory databases and more. Micron (Boise, Idaho) believes the modules will be used as faster SSDs with large DRAM caches, DRAM modules with flash as swap space or as flash block storage assisted by DRAM.
The hybrid DIMMs use a special controller as the main interface to the processor. They also have a separate flash controller.
Support under Windows is a key enabler for hybrid DIMMs. So far Microsoft has not made any public comments on its plans, but over the last six months it has held and asked for multiple meetings with Micron on the technology.
