SSD and RAM have many things in common as both use memory chips for storing data. But where an SSD use NAND Flash, which will keep the data when the power is cut, RAM- drives rely on DRAM memories that can't hold the data without power, but at the same time offer high transfer rates. Both technologies have their advantages, but DDRdrive has made a serious attempt to combine the two.
DDRdrive X1 is the name of the drive that combines SSD and RAM as it houses 4GB SLC NAND Flash but also 4GB DRAM. To rid the drive of more bottlenecks holding back retail SSDs, DDRdrive has chosen to equip the X1 drive with a PCIe x1 connector. The storage unit thus slides into PCI Express slot and even if the x1 interface doesn't allow for any staggering transfers rates it the number of IOPS (In/Out Operations Per Second) that is in focus.
At PC Perspective they've taken a closer look at DDRdrive X1 and compared it to the best retail SSDs and Fusion-io's ioDrive 160. even if these solutions sports considerably more storage capacity, and sometimes higher transfer rates, it is impressive to see the result from the IOPS benchmark.
DDRdrive is a highly specialized storage unit but it still hints of the possibilities with today's solid state technology. With at most 4GB storage and cosing around $1,500 it is hardly a drive we will see in a lot of computers.
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DDRdrive mixes NAND flash and DRAM for wonderful IOPS performance
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