HGST showcases Persistent Memory Fabric technology at the Flash Memory Summit 2015-- a combination of high-speed Phase Change Memory (PCM) and Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) technology from network firm Mellanox.

As the company puts it the result is an in-memory compute cluster offering large total memory space while reducing the power consumption associated with standard DRAM through the use of non-volatile PCM. According to HGST DRAM consumes 20-30% of datacentre power budgets.

PCM does not required powered refresh, making it scalable, yet still offers DRAM-like performance.

Diablo Technologies launches Memory1-- an "all-flash DDR4 server system memory technology" allowing servers to crunch more data-intensive applications by packing 4x the capacity of the largest DRAM modules.

Derived from Memory Channel Storage architecture (a means to connect flash storage to the CPU via DD3 interface), Memory1 technology essentially uses flash as slower (if cheaper) page-accessed memory compatible with standard motherboards, servers, operating systems and applications.

Memory1 modules are deployed via standard DDR4 DIMM slots, with each flash DIMM module holding up to 256GB of byte-addressable system (flash) memory and support for memory speeds of up too 1233MT/s (megatransfers per second). The company claims the technology allows for greater capability on fewer servers, lowering datacentre costs by up to 70%.

Gefen announces the 4x1 DVI KVM Multiview Switcher (EXT-DVIK-MV-41)-- a next generation KVM switching solution allowing the control of 4 computers from a dual-display workstation.

Operators can observe data from up to 4 computers on one display, with the 2nd display switching to any image in need of closer attention. Meanwhile a cascading ability allows expansion to up to 8 switchers accessing up to 32 computers, all with comprehensive control from a single keyboard and mouse.

Customers can independently route 2 front panel USB and bi-directional audio ports (for microphone and headphones/speakers) from any of the computers. Preset and customisable window configurations are readily available, including single screen, split screen, picture-in-picture and 4 windows on the same display, while video outputs can be scaled and positioned for precise video alignment.

IBM researchers plan to use an unlikely material to cool datacentres-- a dessicant similar to silica gel packs found in shoe boxes converting waste heat into cool air, thus making for self-cooling datacentres.

Through a project named THRIVE the researchers are working on a waste heat-powered heat pump. Traditional heat pumps (such as those in refrigerators or AC units) draw warmth from the surroundings to vaporise a refrigerant in an evaporator. The vapor rises into an electrically-powered compressor before it turns into liquid and runs pack into the evaporator.

The THRIVE heat pump, on the other hand, features an "absorption heat exchanger" running on heat at temperatures from 60°C, not electricity. The heat exchanger works like a radiator, pulling vapour and compressing it using fins filled with the aforementioned silica gel desiccant. The process uses less electricity than conventional heat pumps (leading to higher cooling or heat output in relation to wattage used), and uses pure water instead of potentially harmful refrigerant as a coolant.