Intel Turbo Memory

Intel Turbo Memory (codenamed Robson, [ [http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/31250/135/ TGDaily report] , retrieved August 22, 2007] also known as a Robson cache) is a technology introduced by semi-conductor company Intel to utilize NAND flash memory modules, reducing the time it takes for a computer to power up, access programs, and write data to the hard drive. __NOTOC__

Overview

The technology was publicly introduced on October 17, 2005 at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Taiwan when it gave a demonstration using a laptop that booted up almost immediately. [ [http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/10/17/robson/ Macworld | Intel slashes PC power-up times ] ] The technology attempts to decrease hard drive usage by moving frequently accessed data over to the flash memory. Flash memory reacts faster than hard drives and requires less power, allowing notebooks to be faster and more power efficient. [cite press release | publisher=Intel Corporation | date=2006-03-07 | title=Intel Discloses Technologies To Make The Internet More Personal And Mobile | url=http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060307corp_b.htm | accessdate=2006-05-10] [ [http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1936920,00.asp Intel's Robson Boosts Hard Drive Performance-Analysis on ExtremeTech ] ]

The Robson cache connects via a mini-PCIe card with on-board NAND flash memory modules, supporting new features available in Microsoft Windows Vista, namely ReadyBoost (a hard-drive caching solution via USB flash drives) and ReadyDrive (a hard-drive caching solution via hybrid drives), allowing both read caching and write caching of data. Often this is implemented with a Disk Filtering Option ROM (DFOROM).

Availability

Intel introduced Intel Turbo Memory on May 9, 2007, on the "Santa Rosa" platform and their "Crestline" (GM965) chipsets.

Intel introduced Intel Turbo Memory 2.0 on July 15, 2008, on the "Montevina platform" platform and their "Cantiga" (GM47) chipsets.

ee also

* Hybrid drive

References