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Micron’s New DDR3 Memory Chips to Enable 8GB, 16GB Modules. Micron Claims “Highest-Density” DDR3 Memory Chip
[10/30/2007 11:22 PM]
by Anton Shilov
Micron Technology, one of the world’s largest producers of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), on Tuesday unveiled the industry’s first DDR3 memory chip with 2Gb density, which will eventually allow the company to introduce 8GB or 16GB memory modules for servers or 4GB modules for notebooks and desktops. Which is even more important, the new chip can run at 1333MHz, providing blazing performance.
“Just as we led the market last year with the introduction of our 1Gb DDR3 component, we are leading the market yet again with our new 2Gb component,” said Brian Shirley, vice president of Micron’s memory group.
Micron’s 2Gb DDR3 chip is produced using 78nm process technology and can operate at 1333MHz at 1.5V, the default voltage for DDR3 memory. Potentially, manufacturers of advanced memory modules may not only create 4GB, 8GB or 16GB modules, but also produce pre-overclocked 4GB sticks by increasing the frequency of Micron’s chips from default 1333MHz to a higher speed-bin.
By reducing supply voltage from 1.8V to 1.5V, DDR3 provides a 20% – 30% memory power savings when compared to DDR2 technology. Further memory power savings can also be realized by using fewer components on a module, approximately 40% to 50% percent depending on module form-factor, according to Micron.
“As power consumption continues to be a top concern in the technology industry, Micron remains the leader in the energy-efficient memory movement. It’s important that we show customers opportunities for them to reduce memory power consumption. In addition to the reduced core voltage of DDR3, our new 2Gb component allows customers to lower their overall system memory power consumption by using less chips on a module,” said Mr. Shirley.
Commercial availability for the 1Gb DDR3 product is planned for the first quarter of 2008.
“The graphic intensive features and functionalities designed into today’s new operating systems are requiring more and more memory to perform at optimal levels. IDC forecasts that, by the fourth quarter of 2008, the average desktop PC will contain nearly 2.1GBs of DRAM, the average mobile PC over 1.8GBs, and the average x86 server over 11.2GBs,” said Shane Rau, program director for computing, networking and storage semiconductors at IDC.



X-bit labs - Micron’s New DDR3 Memory Chips to Enable 8GB, 16GB Modules.

Metaram shows 16GB DDR3 DIMMs


IDF San Francisco 72 DRAMs, one rank
By Charlie Demerjian: Wednesday, 20 August 2008, 8:36 AM

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WE SHOWED YOU pictures of DDR3 Metaram in the early spring, back then it didn't officially exist. It does now, and just like it's older DDR2 cousin, it promises bigger and better DIMMs.

16GB, 8GB and 8GB with heatspreader Metaram DDR3 modules
What Metaram promises is quite simple, it emulates higher density DRAMs with lower density parts, meaning cheaper DIMMs. It also allows you to make lower rank DIMMs with more DRAMs than you should be able to, allowing for more DIMMs per channel.

The main difference between the DDR2 and DDR3 flavors of Metaram is that the DDR3 version only uses 5 Metaram chips instead of the 5+1 of DDR2. The DDR3 version works with a standard DDR3 buffer chip, and that farms out requests to the Metaram chips. In the DDR2 version, one type of Metaram sent requests out to the DRAMs directly, and that information was collated on the other type of Metaram part.

The new way is much cheaper to make, and only requires one part type, simplifying everything. You can use either TI or IDT buffers, likely more later as well. The end result is a solution for DDR3 that costs less than the DDR2 variant.

How large can it go? Today they showed off 8 and 16GB variants, and there is a 4GB one as well should you need it. If you have access to 2Gb DDR3 chips, you could make a 32GB DIMM, the Metaram chips support that density now. The 1 to 2Gb part crossover isn't likely to happen until 2010, so don't wait up for them to fall from the sky.

Speeds on it can go up to 1333MHz on 4 and 8GB modules, 16 is limited to 1066. It may be possible to get 16s to 1333, but that is not a certainty yet. In any case, 1066MHz parts should be out soon, with bigger and faster variants when demand calls for them.

TG Daily - Intel shows off 16 GB DDR3 DIMMs at IDF

Some Nice Kits for those who are going to get the i7 CPU and a very nice DDR2 8GB kit for the ones not quite ready to Change to DDR3
EPRIM » Memory

Very nice Mr Grim. Great read.

Nice find Mr.Grim.