# IBM Looks to Phase Change Memory

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ibm-looks-to-phase-change-memory/306304>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 1, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ibm-looks-to-phase-change-memory/306304 "2005-06-01T01:17:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ibm-looks-to-phase-change-memory/306304/1 "2005-06-01T01:17:02Z")

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[An end to hard drives, perhaps?](http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/pr.nsf/pages/news.20050523_exploratory.html)

> [@](#):
>
> PCM is a novel technology that stores data by changing the state of a special material from an amorphous to a crystalline structure, rather than storing data as an electrical charge. While in its early stages, the technology shows potential for high speed, high density storage of data, while retaining data even when power is turned off. Such attributes could be beneficial in applications ranging from high performance servers to consumer electronics.

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**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ibm-looks-to-phase-change-memory/306304/2 "2005-06-01T02:35:50Z")

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Nothing really that new here. I remember reading about this in a _Byte_ magazine article in 1991 or 1992. Still waiting…