The Everspin Blog

The Everspin blog is our way of communicating to customers, partners, and the industry in general exactly what MRAM is and how it can be used in the development of solutions that range from industrial to enterprise to transportation and beyond. If you have a request for us to address a particular topic, you can use our information request form and suggest a topic in the Describe Your Request section.

MRAM Hits the Reliability Jackpot in Electronic Gaming Machines

MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory) is rapidly expanding into mainstream use, fueling technologies as diverse as medical equipment, space-bound satellites, high-performance electric vehicles, and industrial IoT systems. Its nonvolatility allows for data retention without external batteries, faster write speeds, and better energy efficiency, making it an attractive alternative to flash and SRAM for companies chasing innovation. But MRAM’s impact isn’t limited to high-profile or mission-critical systems—it’s also quietly at work in more familiar places, such as the slot machines in your local casino.

Why Slot Machines Need a Smarter Memory Beyond BBSRAM

Electronic gaming machines depend heavily on fast, reliable memory to process real-time data and safeguard against power loss. The demand for memory technologies that can meet this demand is growing alongside the commercial gaming industry, which achieved record-high revenue records in 2024 for a fourth consecutive year, according to the American Gaming Association.

Players enjoy these machines for their ease of use, but behind the screen is a complex computer working hard to process, log, and retrieve data to ensure a smooth playing experience. And there is a vast amount of data to process, including financial information, player profiles, current credits, key presses, payout ratios, and win statistics. Equally important, data must be saved quickly in case a play is interrupted by an unexpected power outage, and that data should be protected while the outage is being resolved.

Additionally, casinos must comply with various laws, including anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) regulations, which prevent financial crimes and ensure responsible gambling. The collected data helps casinos with identity verification and transaction monitoring, which in turn assists in detecting and reporting suspicious behavior and mitigating fraud.

Traditionally, slot machines have used battery-backed SRAM (BBSRAM) for memory storage. BBSRAM is a more ideal choice than flash and EEPROM, offering faster write speeds, higher endurance, and instant data retention during power loss. However, BBSRAM relies on lithium batteries, which present key challenges: they can't be soldered during standard manufacturing, increasing production cost, and batteries require maintenance, add design complexity, occupy more PCB space, and pose safety and environmental risks. As a result, machine manufacturers need a better solution—a memory option that reduces system complexity and maintenance needs while delivering the same speed and endurance with built-in non-volatility, which is the solution MRAM delivers.

Protecting Data in Electronic Gaming Machines with MRAM Memory Solutions

MRAM is unique because it uses the the power of magnetics rather than electron charges to store data. This characteristic gives MRAM a host of defining advantages:

·       Non-volatility

·       High endurance

·       High reliability

·       Real-time writing

·       Power failure protection

·       Low power consumption

·       Long data retention

·       Resistance to environmental stress

·       Compact, scalable design

When compared to BBSRAM or SRAM in general, MRAM’s instant nonvolatility automatically safeguards data during power outages, whereas SRAM relies on an external battery, which is prone to wear and eventual failure. SRAM must remain continuously powered to retain data, even when idle, resulting in high power consumption. This issue is particularly concerning for “always-on” systems like slot machines.

In contrast, once data is written to MRAM, it remains securely stored without requiring backup power, significantly reducing idle power use. Lastly, MRAM simplifies system design by eliminating the need for extra components required by battery-backed SRAM. For a more technical dive into the performance of MRAM vs. SRAM in electronic gaming machines, explore our application note.

Manufacturers have already started to turn to MRAM to support their machines with optimal data protection. For example, AEWIN Technologies partnered with Everspin to equip their gaming systems with MRAM, citing the ultimate combination of data fidelity, reliability, and low overall cost.

MRAM: the Future of Memory in Gaming Systems & Beyond

In the fast-evolving casino gaming industry, where performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance are prioritized, memory technology plays a vital role in enabling smooth, secure gameplay. Slot machines must process large volumes of real-time, sensitive data even during power loss, without adding unnecessary design complexity. MRAM meets these demands with its non-volatility, fast write speeds, low power consumption, and high endurance. Unlike legacy solutions like BBSRAM, it eliminates the need for batteries, simplifies system architecture, and reduces maintenance.

As gaming systems grow more complex and data-driven, MRAM delivers the efficiency and reliability manufacturers need, while providing players with a faster, safer, and more seamless experience!

Accelerating Space Innovation: The Power of FPGA and MRAM for Next-Generation Aerospace Technologies

The aerospace industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years, fueled by both government initiatives and private sector ventures. In 2022, it was estimated that 5,500 operational satellites were actively orbiting Earth, and an additional 58,000 satellites will be launched by 2030. This rapid expansion relies heavily on advanced semiconductor technologies that enable the processing and transmission of critical data from space back to Earth.

Among the key enablers of this progress are Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), a type of integrated circuit that offers high performance, programming flexibility, and speed, making it ideal for the demanding requirements of space applications. In addition, a reliable memory solution is essential to ensure that the data processed by FPGAs is securely stored and efficiently delivered. Magnetoresistive Random-Access Memory (MRAM), a non-volatile memory technology, stands out as a leading solution due to its reliability, high endurance, and ability to perform under extreme conditions. As innovation continues to accelerate, the combination of FPGAs and MRAM is emerging as the optimal solution to meet the unique challenges of space technology.

For the complete article Click Here

Data Persistence with MRAM Over CXL®

MRAM offers unique attributes that span a wide range of use cases. Access time, as well as endurance, can be optimized for four main use cases. For persistent SRAM use cases, MRAM can be optimized for high endurance and fast access. MRAM can also address NOR flash use cases, enabling reliable code execution in computing where MRAM has higher endurance and offers significatnly faster writes than NOR Flash. For configuration or distributed persistent memory use cases, MRAM enables fast access with a limited number of updates. Lastly, MRAM can also address OTP use cases, providing a superior solution to other OTP technologies. All these use cases typically assume a direct attach leveraging one of the legacy interfaces such as parallel or serial memory and flash interfaces. This limits the degrees of freedom and value proposition that MRAM natively offers.

The emerging CXL interface is about to change this as it offers a non-deterministic access paradigm optimal for MRAM as well as protocols enabling computer memory as well as storage solutions all the way to accelerators that can be combined to address the most demanding compute applications, especially in the Artificial Intelligence Domain. Additionally, the CXL interface allows for the MRAM to be disaggregated and shared with a large number of compute nodes on the CXL bus in e.g. HPC use cases. Furthermore, CXL attached MRAM offers remote persistent memory functionality and can be used to log data, as a write cache or temporarily protect data in flight, eliminating complex power fail mechanisms. In the configuration as a CXL offload accelerator, MRAM may provide persistent memory that can also be used to store weights for AI inferencing applications. Clearly, CXL also has the benefit of seamlessly connecting MRAM into applications over generations, reducing the interface R&D efforts for the device and host. CXL finally offers an interface option that empowers users to deploy MRAM in a wide variety of use cases, enhancing system performance, power efficiency, and reliability.

A potential implementation of CXL persistent memory is described in the following whitepaper, authored by Bill Gervasi of Wolley Inc. with contributions from Joe O’Hare. The concept of a wide IO MRAM can be utilized in many design approaches. Everspin will continue to explore ways to provide a true persistent memory over CXL.

For the complete Article CLICK HERE 

Traditional Memory vs. MRAM: Revolutionizing Non-Volatile Memory

 In spearheading the semiconductor industry’s resurgence in 2024, the memory market took the lead, surpassing micro, logic, and then analog ICs. Despite lower demand in other sectors, memory products, particularly MRAM, exhibited consistent and positive sales. Industry projections indicate a significant uptick in MRAM adoption, aligning seamlessly with the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) and underscoring the pivotal role memory plays in evolving AI technology. With its remarkable blend of non-volatility, efficiency, and endurance, MRAM is poised to become the universal memory solution, increasingly favored over traditional counterparts for applications in automotive, industrial, aerospace, and data center storage...

For the complete article CLICK HERE

A New Era in Everspin's Persistent Memory Solutions

MRAM has proven itself as the highest performing persistent memory available in the commercial memory industry, combining the best aspects of random access memory with non-volatility. In a world in which protection of mission critical data is paramount, MRAM has stepped in and filled a void that conventional memory types such as SRAM, DRAM and Flash have left open. Everspin’s broad portfolio of MRAM fulfills the need for persistence, endurance, low latency.

 Driven by pervasive applications such as data analytics, cloud computing, both terrestrial and extraterrestrial, artificial intelligence (AI), Edge AI including Industrial IoT, the market for persistent memory is projected to grow at a CAGR of 27.5% between 2020 and 2030[1]. This growth calls for a cohesive product strategy to address the market requirements.

 Since Everspin introduced our first family of magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) persistent memories, we have been a pioneering force, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in data storage and processing. Today, we mark the next chapter in our journey with the launch of PERSYST: the new brand for our top-tier persistent memory families.

Everspin’s Road to Embedded World 2024

The Advantages of using MRAM with FPGA’s, a perspective from Sanjeev Aggarwal, President and CEO of Everspin Technologies

Field-programmable gate arrays (FGPAs) are finding their way into many different applications as 5G technology, and other LPWAN connectivity solutions roll out.  Automotive, IoT operations, and 5G edge applications are implementing FPGA chips due to their fast time-to-market and their ability to be reprogrammed. In many cases, the FPGA is installed in applications where frequent system updates are needed. Often these bitstream updates are made over the air (OTA. An FPGA with a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) can simplify the software associated with the management process of updating new bitstreams into memory. System designers can take advantage of MRAM’s faster write capabilities which can lead to lower energy usage. New MRAM developments are underway to combine the unique benefits of MRAM and FPGA.

For the complete article CLICK HERE

 Sanjeev Aggarwal Describes the New EMxxLX STT-MRAM Family

The EMxxLX family is the highest performing discrete persistent memory in the industry with up to 400MB/s of read and write bandwidth. We have taken steps to make this product easy to design-in for our customers by using the standard xSPI octal protocol, standard packages, and eliminating any need for endurance wear-leveling or external error correction.  It represents the decisive move to make our STT-MRAM technology suitable for industrial markets with enhanced temperature, endurance and data retention as compared to earlier STT-MRAM products. Production availability now means that our customers can take full advantage of the performance and reliability of this new offering in their industrial, aerospace, storage, networking, transportation, IoT and edge, AI, metering, and infrastructure systems that all demand the highest of data integrity over the life of the systems in harsh environments. Additionally, we have matched the command protocol for serial NOR Flash memories which gives customers the option to use MRAM in FPGA based system for very fast configurations and performance advantages with the extremely fast writing capability, 1000x times faster than worst case NOR programming speeds. Announcing production availability of the EMxxLX is a big milestone for Everspin, but more importantly for our customers that will take advantage of the performance, backed by the strong reputation for reliability for our products.

Joe O'Hare Interviewed in Storage Unpacked

This week, Chris and Martin dig deeper into storage media and look at magneto-resistive RAM, commonly known as MRAM in this conversation with Joe O’Hare, Director of Distribution and Product Marketing at Everspin Technologies.

Listen to the podcast

Catching Up on the Latest Developments in MRAM

Electronic Design Editor Bill Wong interviewed Everspin CEO Kevin Conley about the state of MRAM and its track to becoming a universal memory. In this Q&A, Kevin discusses MRAM pricing, the potential of Everspin’s 1 Gb STT-MRAM solution, embedded MRAM, Toggle MRAM and more.  To read the full Q&A interview, visit Electronic Design.

Peeling Back the Covers of STT-MRAM

STT-MRAM is a persistent memory solution that enables higher density with the ability to scale while consuming less power. With fast read/write speed similar to DRAM and the ability to handle memory workloads, STT-MRAM is considered the “leading contender for universal memory,” the “world's fastest write speed for embedded memory,” or as we like to say, “the industry’s most durable, highest performance persistent memory.” There’s no question STT-MRAM is highly regarded for its versatility, reliability, speed and endurance, especially for applications where data persistence is paramount, such as enterprise storage, industrial and transportation systems. For example, IBM has adopted Everspin STT-MRAM for use as a persistent write buffer in the flash modules used to build their All Flash Arrays (AFA). Read more...

Choices: Toggle or STT-MRAM?

There are clear benefits to using Toggle MRAM and STT-MRAM which is why Everspin continues to invest in both product lines. In June 2019, we announced production phase for our 1 Gb STT-MRAM product. During the announcement, many media and analysts viewed this as a move away from our Toggle MRAM product line. That couldn’t be further from the truth, evidenced by our recent expansion of our Toggle MRAM solutions. We deliver choices to our customers to meet their broad application requirements. We’re now offering a wide variety of Toggle MRAM densities, with new 2Mb, 8MB and 32Mb Toggle MRAM solutions to accompany our 16MB and other low-density solutions, adding to memory and price point variety. Read more...