History Main / DataCrystal

* In ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' the Erisians appear to have used crystals as computers. In the modern era their Venusian descendants are able to store psychic energy in shards and make other powerful artefacts, such as the speaker's staff and the Venusian wood axe.

TruthInTelevision with the fact that deep inside all of the plastic cladding, all solid-state electronic devices are based on crystalline semiconductors; also, in that a three-dimensional storage matrix should in theory offer orders of magnitude greater information density for a given volume than any possible refinement of the essentially two-dimensional storage methods in use today.

* ''VideoGame/ArTonelico'' has Hymn Crystals, which allows for songs (which are used as "magic" in the game) to be stored and later downloaded into Reyvateils.

* The [[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork Mega Man Battle Network]] series has these... [[PlayingWithATrope Kinda.]] Unknown data takes the form of an 8-sided crystal, in three colors, green, blue, and purple. It's unknown whether or not this is actually crystalline though.

* The ''{{Halo}}'' series has these and uses them for storing artificial intelligences. Less complex data is simply transmitted.

* One episode of ''{{Eureka}}'' introduced Data Diamonds. Capable of storing utterly massive amounts of information on the molecular level. They needed [[PhlebotinumOverload proper hardware]] though as lesser computers [[ExplosiveOverclocking combusted]] from the extreme processing.
* ''{{Alphas}}'', one episode featured a necklace made from some strange crystals, and they figure out that it stores information on specially arranged molecule structures.
* In the first season of ''{{Fringe}}'', there were the glass disks and they were data storage devices, Massive Dynamic was able to read information from them.

* An episode of ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' has the team slide into a world where most of the world is run by bandits. Most of civilized knowledge has been destroyed, except for a small island where the entirety of human knowledge is kept by secretive monks. When it looks like the bandits have discovered the island and are invading, Diana sets up a system to record the entire database onto a large crystal (unlike most examples, this particular crystal is uncut) that spins while a laser shines into it. In the end, the library is destroyed, and two of the monks manage to make it out alive along with the crystal. It's not clear how's they're supposed to figure out the extraction process, though, as the knowledge for that is [[Catch22Dilemma inside the crystal]].

* ''Star Wars: Droidworks'' features crystals that display messages when a laser is shined on them. A few show video clips from the movies.

* [[http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Data_crystal Data Crystals are a popular]] intergalactic standard in ''Series/BabylonFive.''

* In the ''Franchise/{{Stargate|Verse}}'' 'verse most space-faring species use crystals extensively in their computers. In one case a storage crystal from an old Goa'uld research base is dismissed as a simple decoration by the archaeologists.

* In ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'', all memory of Smurf history that was transferred into Empath's mind from his great-grandson in the future has been transferred into a memory crystal, which in-universe will be given to {{Creator/Peyo}} so that he can create ''Franchise/TheSmurfs''.

* In ''Film/{{Superman}}'' and ''SupermanII'', Superman's Fortress of Solitude at the North Pole had a system that stored information on crystals. In SupermanReturns, it is mentioned that the crystal impressively holds 95% of Krypton's entire knowledge. [[RedHerring The remaining 5% is never mentioned again.]]

* In ''Film/{{Superman}}'' and ''SupermanII'', Superman's Fortress of Solitude at the North Pole had a system that stored information on crystals.
** Actually, the whole fortress was "stored" in the green crystal that was placed in Kal-El's rocket and constructed itself out of ice when the crystal was thrown into the arctic landscape.
** In SupermanReturns, it is mentioned that the crystal impressively holds 95% of Krypton's entire knownledge. [[RedHerring The remaining 5% is never mentioned again.]]

* The ''Gosroth'''s log in ''CrestOfTheStars'' takes the form of a data crystal, which is passed on to Lafiel and Jinto when they're ordered to flee an impending battle.

* In the ''{{Stargate}}'' 'verse most space-faring species use crystals extensively in their computers. In one case a storage crystal from an old Goa'uld research base is dismissed as a simple decoration by the archaeologists.

* While all semiconductors function through quantum effects in their crystal structure, some technologies like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_on_Sapphire Silicon on Sapphire]][[hottip:*:Used for radiation resistant electronics InSpace]] more accurately reflect this trope.

* In the "Darwath Trilogy" by Creator/BarbaraHambly, the earlier human civilization that built the Keep of Dare used magitech data crystals to store information.

TruthInTelevision with the fact that deep inside all of the plastic cladding, all solid-state electronic devices are based on crystalline semiconductors.

* ''FinalFantasyX'' has Spheres, which hold holographic recordings.
** The [[FinalFantasyX2 sequel]] expands upon this with the invention of the Garment Grid, which allows the party to use the skills and abilities of the person whose memories are captured on the sphere - translating into a [[JobSystem Job or Class]]. [[spoiler:This (of all things) actually becomes a major plot point when Yuna's usage of the Songstress Sphere actually awakens Lenne's dormant memories]].

* ''Webcomic/EightBitTheatre'' has Dataspheres, which look like cubes. According to Red Mage, one has enough information to overflow the entire universe and possibly drive anyone who looks into it mad.