thumb drive flash chips technology replacing hard drives ?

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:46 am

is it possible that the modern hard drives days are no. and that newer computers will be made with the same chip technology as thumb drives to store data .
and all you do is add small stacks of chips on top of each other for more storage space ?
this would sure help to down size the desk top or server case sizes and weight .
it be like adding memory chips except your adding storage chips !

just food for thought !

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:55 am

well... if 3d optic crystal storage ever makes it out of the labs that will be the way to go.

Jim Z · Post by **Jim Z** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:12 am

the problem with *current* flash memory is thus:

1) it's slow. at least relative to hard drives... seek time is lower but sustained xfer is a good bit slower.
2) cost per gig is a lot higher.
3) flash has a limit to the number of times it can be erased and written to. using it as general purpose storage will kill it in fairly short order.

DoPeY5007 · Post by **DoPeY5007** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:23 am

Originally posted by Jim Z
the problem with *current* flash memory is thus:

1) it's slow. at least relative to hard drives... seek time is lower but sustained xfer is a good bit slower.

um, I think they are faster then HD's

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:42 am

Umm, Dopey, Flash drives are MUCH slower than hard drives.

The issue of limited number of read/write cycles can be improved. The NASA probes and rovers the the last several years all use flash memory for storage, but it's higher quality and more expensive flash memory than what consumers have access to right now.

Jim Z · Post by **Jim Z** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:20 am

The issue of limited number of read/write cycles can be improved. The NASA probes and rovers the the last several years all use flash memory for storage, but it's higher quality and more expensive flash memory than what consumers have access to right now.

plus, modern flash controllers are intelligent enough to "spread out" their writes so they're not writing and erasing the same cells over and over.

DoPeY5007 · Post by **DoPeY5007** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:09 pm

ok, I need to go read some more :-p

I always thought they were faster

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:20 pm

Originally posted by Pugsley
well... if 3d optic crystal storage ever makes it out of the labs that will be the way to go.

This is what I'm waiting for.. My dad has been talking about this for years.. Because if you think about it, it would be a limitless storage possibility.. Depending on the way that the light is refracted through the crystal and the different colors of light. But, I really think this is a far way off. But not completely inconceivable for our lifetime...

eGo

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:14 pm

Originally posted by eGoCeNTRoNiX
This is what I'm waiting for.. My dad has been talking about this for years.. Because if you think about it, it would be a limitless storage possibility.. Depending on the way that the light is refracted through the crystal and the different colors of light. But, I really think this is a far way off. But not completely inconceivable for our lifetime...

eGo

Yes... having worked with high powerd lasers (2Kw) that have nothing to do with data storage i can tell you that it will be the way to go. After going to the fabtec show and seeing the size of some of the new laser resonators, it wont be long untill they have highpowerd ones the size of a HD.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:54 am

How about a USB thumb drive RAID array?

http://www.bigbruin.com/reviews05/artic ... aid&file=1

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 11:41 am

Originally posted by FlyingPenguin
How about a USB thumb drive RAID array?

http://www.bigbruin.com/reviews05/artic ... aid&file=1

LOL - might be worthwhile if the total space was greater than just 2 gigs.

GuardianAsher · Post by **GuardianAsher** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:35 am

How about $2000 for a 32GB Flash Drive RAID array?