Intel and Micron announce 3D Xpoint, a new memory technology that's 1,000 times faster than NAND

//

Intel and Micron held a joint press conference earlier today to announce a breakthrough memory technology called 3D Xpoint (pronounced 3D crosspoint) that’s up to 1,000 times faster (read speeds) than today’s NAND, features 1,000 times better endurance and is 10 times denser than conventional memory.
3D Xpoint is described as whole new class of memory – not just a new type of NAND or DRAM – that operates fundamentally different than what’s available today.
As the name suggests, it’s built on a three-dimensional architecture that uses a new type of switch instead of traditional transistors.
3D Xpoint is also non-volatile meaning it can be used for storage purposes as well as function as traditional memory although the two companies repeatedly implied that it will could also lead to new types of computing experiences not yet conceived.

As for consumer-based products, those will probably come further down the road. On the PC side, a new storage-minded interface capable of handling the kind of speed that 3D Xpoint can deliver will be mandatory as today’s SATA III interface is already a bottleneck with existing SSDs.
Intel and Micron said they will be sending out samples later this year before products using 3D Xpoint arrive in 2016.