Micron announces the availability of 32GB DDR4 NVDIMM-N drives with a NAND Flash memory chip for backup data storage in the event of power loss.

Announced by the Micron company the next generation of NVDIMM-N modules, which are a combination of NAND Flash memory in a DDR4 DRAM memory model. These memories are normally known as persistent memory models and are a kind of hybrid between RAM and SSD. These new modules have a capacity of 32GB and double the capacity of the previous units and their working frequency is also increased, being 2933MHz with a CL21 latency, which is faster than other platforms for similar servers.

These NVDIMM units are characterized by being type N, which means that they work like conventional ECC DRAM DIMM units, but they have a NAND Flash memory, which allows to make a backup storage of the information for security, in case a loss of current. Another common type is type F, but these offer a 'conventional' NAND Flash storage system.

When these units are installed in servers and they are working, it works like conventional DDR4 modules, without much novelty. The peculiarity is that when the system suffers a power loss or one could occur imminently, the installed FPGA module takes care of managing the storage in the DRAM and transfers it to the installed 64GB SLC NAND in each module. In addition, this module, in the event of a power failure, can be powered by an external AGIGA PowerGEM module or by a backup battery using the 12V DIMM socket pins.

Logically these units are not intended for conventional users, they are exclusively intended for delicate servers that cannot afford to lose information due to power outages, as it could damage running processes or corrupt files.

Source: Anandtech