Re: Confused: What is difference between SRAM and Flash Card

Hitesh Brahmbhatt (hitesh@opti.com)
Thu, 12 Dec 96 10:38:37 PST

> From owner-ogo@lifelike.com Thu Dec 12 08:14:15 1996
> Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 10:07:22 -0500
> From: "James D. Bearden" <70003.7001@compuserve.com>
> Subject: Confused: What is difference between SRAM and Flash Card
> To: "Kathleen Weaver" <kathleen@metronet.com>
> Cc: OGO List <ogo@lifelike.com>
> Sender: owner-ogo@lifelike.com
> Content-Length: 665
>
> Hmmm, well it's sort of like diesel and regular gasoline. From what I
> remember from school, SRAM is faster and requires less power. But, it
> doesn't have the capacity that flashcards do, and it requires a battery
> right on the card. So if you need a lot of space, you have to get a
> flashcard. I think the biggest SRAM card is 8 Megs, and the biggest flash
> card is 40 Megs.
>
> OK folks, I'm I'm wrong let me know.
>

SRAM takes about 6 transistors to make up one storage location; while
Flash like DRAM takes only 1 transistor, hence higher capacity. And
there are other tricks that can boost Flash capacity even further.

I have explained in a separate message, why Flash does not need continued
supply to maintain the info.

Currently, DRAM prices are about 4-5$ per Megabyte, while Flash prices are
approx. 20$ Megabyte (?) and there is a potential for this gap to narrow
because Flash does not even have as big a market as DRAM yet. Digital Cameras and
Audio Recorders/Answering Machines/Cell Phones besides Palmtops like OG 100
are expected to expand the market and thus narrow the price gap. Currently,
the market size for DRAM vs Flash could be 100:1 or even 1000:1 !!!

I am showing this comparision here because from manufacturing point; the cost
is not very different for these two types of memory.

> --
> James D. Bearden GEOS FAQ Maintainer
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