DDR4 SDRAM
In computing, DDR4 SDRAM or double-data-rate four synchronous dynamic random access memory is a random access memory interface technology used for high bandwidth storage of the working data of a computer or other digital electronic devices. DDR4 is part of the SDRAM family of technologies and is one of the many DRAM (dynamic random access memory) implementations.
DDR4 SDRAM will be the successor to DDR3 SDRAM. It was revealed at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, 2008, that it is currently in the design phase and has an expected release date of 2012.[1]
The new chips are expected to run at 1.2 V or less,[2][3] versus the 1.5 V of DDR3 chips and have in excess of 2 billion data transfers per second. They are expected to be introduced at clock speeds of 2133 MHz, estimated to rise to a potential 3.2 GHz [4] and lowered voltage of 1.0 V [5] by 2013.
In February 2009, Samsung validated 40 nm DRAM chips, considered a "significant step" towards DDR4 development.[6] As of 2009, current DRAM chips are only migrating to a 50 nm process.[7]
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It looks like we should expect frequencies introduced at 2,133 MHz and it will scale to over 4.2 GHz with DDR4. 1,600 MHz (10ns) could still well be the base spec for several DIMMs that require reliability, but it's expected that JEDEC will create new standard DDR3 frequency specifications all the way up to 2,133 MHz, which is where DDR4 should jump off.[8]
[edit] Processes
The designers of DDR4 memory are looking forward 1.2V and 1.1V voltage settings for the new memory type and are even considering 1.05V option to greatly reduce power consumption of the forthcoming systems. It is expected that manufacturers of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) will have to use advanced fabrication technology to make the DDR4 chips. The first chips are likely to be made using 32 nm or 36 nm process technologies.[9]
[edit] Power Consumption
The downside of frequency scaling is that voltage isn't dropping fast enough and the power consumption is increasing relative to PC-133. DDR4 at 4.2 GHz and 1.2V actually uses 4x the power of SDRAM at 133 MHz at 3.3V. 1.1V and 1.05V are currently being discussed, which brings the power down to just over 3x, but it depends on the quality of future manufacturing nodes - an unknown factor.
While 4.2 GHz at 1.2V might require 4x the power it's also a 2.75x drop in voltage for a 32 fold increase in frequency: that seems like a very worthy trade off to us[who?] - put that against the evolution of power use in graphics cards for a comparison and it looks very favourable.
One area where this design might cause problems is enterprise computing. If you're using a lot of DIMMs, considerably higher power, higher heat and higher cost aren't exactly attractive. It's unlikely that DDR4 4.2 GHz will reach a server rack near you though: remember most servers today are only using 1,066 MHz DDR3 whereas enthusiast PC memory now exceeds twice that.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ DDR4 PDF page 23
- ^ Looking forward to DDR4
- ^ DDR3 successor
- ^ "DDR4 DIMM". Interfacebus.com. December 16, 2008. http://www.interfacebus.com/Memory_Module_DDR4_DIMM.html. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ "IDF: DDR4 memory targeted for 2012" (in German). hardware-infos.com. http://www.hardware-infos.com/news.php?news=2332. Retrieved 2009-06-16. English translation
- ^ Gruener, Wolfgang (February 4, 2009). "Samsung hints to DDR4 with first validated 40 nm DRAM". tgdaily.com. http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41316/139/. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
- ^ Jansen, Ng (January 20, 2009). "DDR3 Will be Cheaper, Faster in 2009". dailytech.com. http://www.dailytech.com/DDR3+Will+be+Cheaper+Faster+in+2009/article13977.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-17.[dead link]
- ^ a b Swinburne, Richard (August 26, 2010). "DDR4: What we can Expect". bit-tech.net. http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2010/08/26/ddr4-what-we-can-expect/1. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ^ Shilov, Anton (August 16, 2010). "Next-Generation DDR4 Memory to Reach 4.266GHz - Report.". xbitlabs.com. http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/memory/display/20100816124343_Next_Generation_DDR4_Memory_to_Reach_4_266GHz_Report.html. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
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