DDR4 DRAM Development Announced By Micron

 Computer Memory

Memory manufacturers are shipping samples of DDR4 memory chips, the next generation of computer memory technology, and preparing to mass produce and distribute them. Micron has now joined the field, announcing it had released its first fully functioning DDR4 memory product for testing.

M icron Technology, Inc, one of the world's providers of advanced semiconductor solutions, has announced development of its first fully functional DDR4 DRAM module. The company has begun sampling and has received feedback from major customers to support quick implementation for applications in 2013.

It is expected that the enterprise and micro-server markets will take full advantage of the new features and specifications designed into DDR4, accelerating early adoption of the technology. In addition, the fast-growing ultrathin client and tablet markets will also benefit from new opportunities enabled by the power savings and performance features of Micron's DDR4.

Codeveloped by Nanya and based on Micron's 30-nanometer (nm) technology, the 4-gigabit (Gb) DDR4 x8 part is the first piece of what is expected to be the industry's most complete portfolio of DDR4-based modules.

"With the JEDEC definition for DDR4 very near finalization, we've put significant effort into ensuring that our first DDR4 product is as JEDEC-compatible as it can be at this final stage of its development," said Brian Shirley, vice president for Micron's DRAM Solutions Group. "We've provided samples to key partners in the market place with confidence that the die we give them now is the same die we will take into mass production."

DDR4 will operate at an energy-saving maximum of 1.2 volts (20 percent less voltage than current DDR3 memory) and achieve data transfer rates of 3.2 billion transfers per second (double that of the top-end speed of DDR3′s memory bus). DDR4 also reduces overall power requirements.

Theoretically, since Micron’s initial memory units are “x8″ (having 8-bit storage areas), the memory will have a throughput of 2.4 gigabits per second.

The gating factor for DDR adoption will be how quickly CPU manufacturers adopt the technology and integrate it into CPU memory controllers. Intel’s latest statements indicate the company does not have DDR4 ready for its processors until 2014 the Xeon Haswell-EX processor.


SOURCES  Engadget, ArsTechnica

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