National Academies Press: OpenBook

Preservation of Historical Records (1986)

Chapter: A. Semiconductor Memories

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Suggested Citation:"A. Semiconductor Memories." National Research Council. 1986. Preservation of Historical Records. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/914.
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Page 93

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APPENDIX A Semiconductor Memories Semiconductor memories were examined as possible candidates for archival storage and were dismissed summarily because of cost, size, power, and especially volatility. Given cost projections of $5 for a 256,000-bit CMOS random access memory {RAM) chip, the cost per bit is 2 x 10-3 cents. For large data storage systems of 10~2 bits, the chip cost alone would be $20 million, which is only a fraction of the total system cost. The density of bits on a chip may be as high as 5 x 106 bits per square inch, but chip size takes only a minute portion of a semiconductor memory system. There- fore, the system would be very large. The operating power per chip is low {200 mw), but using approximately 5 x 106 chips for a large system means that 1 megawatt of power would be required. Even if cost, size, and power were not a problem, no one would want to commit archival records to a memory that would be erased if power were interrupted. 93

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With discussion on how paper conservation procedures work, how they are put to use, and how deterioration may be prevented, this comprehensive volume examines how vast quantities of documentation can best be preserved. It provides detailed information and recommendations about various preservation methods, including mechanical copying, photographic film, magnetic recording, and optical disk recording, and on the expected useful lives of each. Also included are a method for scoring and assessing the condition of collections and a decision tree that provides a guide for orderly progress in preserving a collection of documents. Printed on permanent, acid-free paper.

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