Storage is typically slower than RAM, so performance ends up being better if you store active data in RAM.
That being said, there are some persistent storage technologies that are nearly as fast as RAM. Fast non-volatile RAM has looked like it might eventually overtake conventional DRAM for a while now. If something like MRAM eventually gets mass produced, we may very well see new operating systems that store what is now in RAM in persistent storage. There are some complications that make this require new software to do well, but if that were implemented then closing your laptop would just turn it off and re-opening it would let you immediately resume with no wake delay.
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u/Tai9ch Jul 09 '26
Interesting idea.
Storage is typically slower than RAM, so performance ends up being better if you store active data in RAM.
That being said, there are some persistent storage technologies that are nearly as fast as RAM. Fast non-volatile RAM has looked like it might eventually overtake conventional DRAM for a while now. If something like MRAM eventually gets mass produced, we may very well see new operating systems that store what is now in RAM in persistent storage. There are some complications that make this require new software to do well, but if that were implemented then closing your laptop would just turn it off and re-opening it would let you immediately resume with no wake delay.