Samsung intros 4GB flash drive for Vista - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 27th Jul 2006, 10:14

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/07...ive_for_vista/

airchie · 27th Jul 2006, 10:26

Looks totally sweet!

Paolo · 27th Jul 2006, 10:28

With that much access, any word on lifespan?

lamboman · 27th Jul 2006, 10:37

If somebody makes a rack that goes inside your PC, and it has around 500 slots for these things, I might like em. But I think they are a bit dumb, why would you only want four gigs of space.

woodshop · 27th Jul 2006, 10:47

Well i guess it depends on how the thing works. and how selictive you can program it to be.

As lamboman said it's only 4GB however if you can program it to pre catch the next level in a game as well as all teh textures and music you could vary well see an increese.

however from what it said i'm thinking it's more like fast swap space or extra memory used only for those apps like OOo or Quicktime that have them selfs like half loaded @ all times so they have better click-to-run times.

rupbert · 27th Jul 2006, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamboman

If somebody makes a rack that goes inside your PC, and it has around 500 slots for these things, I might like em. But I think they are a bit dumb, why would you only want four gigs of space.

If I understand your misunderstanding correctly, the 4Gb is used alongside standard hardisks.

It's nice to see the OS taking advantage of the hardware in useful ways.

fingers · 27th Jul 2006, 11:30

This seems awesome to me! Unless I am reading into this wrong it will allow the OS to boot quicker.

Waiting 30-60seconds for a PC to be operable is a pain! Having an almost instant boot, anything sub 5 seconds, would be amazing and something I would happily spend my hard earned cash on!

GreatOldOne · 27th Jul 2006, 11:34

This sort of thing is ripe to implement the new Magnetic Ram tech thats starting to roll out.

http://www.mram-info.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAM

But of course, as prices come down with volume, MRAM drives will eventually replace HDD's altogether, making the device in question pretty much obsolete.

rupbert · 27th Jul 2006, 11:36

If the OS was installed entirely on say 8Gb of solid state, would the use of this 4Gb be negated? Could they both be run in tandom?

Could there be a situation in the future that everything (OS, Programs, Games) is run from solid state?

DeX · 27th Jul 2006, 11:51

Yes rupbert, that's the way things are going. This is just a small step in that direction. The problem however with making storage entirely based on flash disks is the that they wear out too quickly. By using a few gigabytes as a cache to store frequently used data though it won't matter so much if bytes are lost as there is always a copy on the main hard disk.

I'm glad we're finally seeing flash drives used in this way as it's about time somebody did something to speed up hard drive access times. MRAM probably won't be available for a good 5 years so this will just be a stepping stone to the point where everything is stored as solid state.

DXR_13KE · 27th Jul 2006, 12:00

rupbert the entire OS is 8Gb, but the part that is loaded might be less..... even 3Gb dont you think? the extra 5Gb might be extra non essencial boot data... or less used data.

Firehed · 27th Jul 2006, 12:02

I bet it's expensive. Dunno, I hope the low latency makes up for the relatively crap read/write speeds on flash drives.

As GOO mentioned, MRAM could work wonders. It's well behind schedule though, since last I heard it was supposed to have all but replaced DRAM about two years ago. Great concept though.

rupbert · 27th Jul 2006, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by DXR_13KE

rupbert the entire OS is 8Gb, but the part that is loaded might be less..... even 3Gb dont you think? the extra 5Gb might be extra non essencial boot data... or less used data.

The reason I used 8Gb as an example is because the standard Windows Vista install is reported to be 7Gb!

GreatOldOne · 27th Jul 2006, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

It's well behind schedule though, since last I heard it was supposed to have all but replaced DRAM about two years ago. Great concept though.

It's out now. Freescale are producing 4Mbit chips in commercial quantities for $25 a pop. Quite expensive and low density at the mo, costs will drop and density will rise given time.

http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/...ST287482186253

Bindibadgi · 27th Jul 2006, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by rupbert

The reason I used 8Gb as an example is because the standard Windows Vista install is reported to be 7Gb!

A twenty gig drive is the required minimum for installing Vista.

wharrad · 27th Jul 2006, 13:29

Looks like a more userfriendly option to Gigabyte's iRAM... Fast swap disk that's just optimised by Vista right?

rupbert · 27th Jul 2006, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

A twenty gig drive is the required minimum for installing Vista.

Sorry, I should have stated that 7Gb was the installed footprint.

Firehed · 27th Jul 2006, 14:49

Yeah, I saw that in the wiki article. I meant it's supposed to have been really available in a useful sense, like replacing the DRAM chips on your memory DIMMs, at the same density. Those densities and prices are worse than what we saw on the first flash drives, IIRC, or if nothing else nothing like what we've got now. Yes, with time that should improve, but I'm almost positive that it was originally planned to have completely replaced conventional system memory, if not flash memory as well, at least a year ago. But whatever, off by a decade isn't that bad. It's working great for DNF and Vista.

/edit - gah, missed quote box again. That was obviously directed towards Nexxo's post.
/edit2 - and by Nexxo, I mean GOO. Long morning

LVMike · 27th Jul 2006, 17:00

I would have expected more than 4 gb and would like sata, im getting rid of my ribions but this looks like its IDE. When these start apperaing in 8 gig or better models i would buy one, i want to be able to cash BF2 and windows into one. Glad they are coming about though.

aggies11 · 27th Jul 2006, 17:11

I can't imagine what the Vista Loadtimes are gonna be like. Anyone using the beta care to report their experiences?

Anything to speed up that beast of an OS would be a godsend.

Forget applications, just the OS files would be nice enough. If this makes a big enough difference, I can see it becoming a standard in Vista PC's.

Aggies

27th Jul 2006, 10:14	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Samsung intros 4GB flash drive for Vista http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/07...ive_for_vista/ __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

27th Jul 2006, 11:30	#7
fingers Multimodder Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: UK Posts: 109	This seems awesome to me! Unless I am reading into this wrong it will allow the OS to boot quicker. Waiting 30-60seconds for a PC to be operable is a pain! Having an almost instant boot, anything sub 5 seconds, would be amazing and something I would happily spend my hard earned cash on! __________________ ModdersHQ.net Where it rocks at!

27th Jul 2006, 11:34	#8
GreatOldOne Thoroughbred of Sin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Evil League of Evil Posts: 10,273	This sort of thing is ripe to implement the new Magnetic Ram tech thats starting to roll out. http://www.mram-info.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRAM But of course, as prices come down with volume, MRAM drives will eventually replace HDD's altogether, making the device in question pretty much obsolete. __________________ "The iPhone is like some glorious early-60s sports car. Not as practical, reliable, economical, sensible or roomy as a family saloon but oh, the joy." - Stephen Fry A GOO-ster is Born - Build Diary Electronics Help Needed! RSS Twitter

27th Jul 2006, 11:51	#10
DeX Mube Codder Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,103	Yes rupbert, that's the way things are going. This is just a small step in that direction. The problem however with making storage entirely based on flash disks is the that they wear out too quickly. By using a few gigabytes as a cache to store frequently used data though it won't matter so much if bytes are lost as there is always a copy on the main hard disk. I'm glad we're finally seeing flash drives used in this way as it's about time somebody did something to speed up hard drive access times. MRAM probably won't be available for a good 5 years so this will just be a stepping stone to the point where everything is stored as solid state. __________________ Play my game: Shyguy's Cave of Death! If you dont have the time to check your spelling and grammar, you dont have the time to post! -Liquid K9

27th Jul 2006, 12:00	#11
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,464	rupbert the entire OS is 8Gb, but the part that is loaded might be less..... even 3Gb dont you think? the extra 5Gb might be extra non essencial boot data... or less used data. __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

27th Jul 2006, 10:28	#3
Paolo Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 191	With that much access, any word on lifespan?

27th Jul 2006, 10:37	#4
lamboman Hypermodder Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 969	If somebody makes a rack that goes inside your PC, and it has around 500 slots for these things, I might like em. But I think they are a bit dumb, why would you only want four gigs of space.

27th Jul 2006, 10:47	#5
woodshop UnSeenly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Depths Of Hades Posts: 1,379	Well i guess it depends on how the thing works. and how selictive you can program it to be. As lamboman said it's only 4GB however if you can program it to pre catch the next level in a game as well as all teh textures and music you could vary well see an increese. however from what it said i'm thinking it's more like fast swap space or extra memory used only for those apps like OOo or Quicktime that have them selfs like half loaded @ all times so they have better click-to-run times.

27th Jul 2006, 11:36	#9
rupbert Hypermodder Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 799	If the OS was installed entirely on say 8Gb of solid state, would the use of this 4Gb be negated? Could they both be run in tandom? Could there be a situation in the future that everything (OS, Programs, Games) is run from solid state?

27th Jul 2006, 12:02	#12
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	I bet it's expensive. Dunno, I hope the low latency makes up for the relatively crap read/write speeds on flash drives. As GOO mentioned, MRAM could work wonders. It's well behind schedule though, since last I heard it was supposed to have all but replaced DRAM about two years ago. Great concept though. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

27th Jul 2006, 13:29	#16
wharrad Hypermodder Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burford, Oxfordshire Posts: 866	Looks like a more userfriendly option to Gigabyte's iRAM... Fast swap disk that's just optimised by Vista right? __________________ Jimmy Carr - "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission"

27th Jul 2006, 14:49	#18
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	Yeah, I saw that in the wiki article. I meant it's supposed to have been really available in a useful sense, like replacing the DRAM chips on your memory DIMMs, at the same density. Those densities and prices are worse than what we saw on the first flash drives, IIRC, or if nothing else nothing like what we've got now. Yes, with time that should improve, but I'm almost positive that it was originally planned to have completely replaced conventional system memory, if not flash memory as well, at least a year ago. But whatever, off by a decade isn't that bad. It's working great for DNF and Vista. /edit - gah, missed quote box again. That was obviously directed towards Nexxo's post. /edit2 - and by Nexxo, I mean GOO. Long morning __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

27th Jul 2006, 17:00	#19
LVMike Supermodder Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas NV & Rolla MO Posts: 412	I would have expected more than 4 gb and would like sata, im getting rid of my ribions but this looks like its IDE. When these start apperaing in 8 gig or better models i would buy one, i want to be able to cash BF2 and windows into one. Glad they are coming about though.

27th Jul 2006, 17:11	#20
aggies11 Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 171	I can't imagine what the Vista Loadtimes are gonna be like. Anyone using the beta care to report their experiences? Anything to speed up that beast of an OS would be a godsend. Forget applications, just the OS files would be nice enough. If this makes a big enough difference, I can see it becoming a standard in Vista PC's. Aggies