DDR2 Memory Information Page 26

DDR to Evolve into DDR2

By ChannelTimes Staff
Mumbai, March 2, 2004

DRAM (dynamic RAM) vendors have recently unveiled plans to change over to a new memory architecture this year that will allow memory chips to run faster in gaming and multimedia PCs.

PCs sold these days use DDR (double data rate) and SDRAM (synchronous DRAM). The most commonly used is PC 3200 memory that clocks upto 400MHZ, and though faster technology does exist it is not used by the common masses.

According to sources, in order to increase memory speeds, chip designers have doubled the number of signals the memory chip could process using a technique called differential signaling. They have also added on-die termination, which allows the memory chip to absorb more "noise" created by signals as they travel through a system and therefore improve signal quality.

PC users won't be able to simply plug in new memory modules to take advantage of the technology, because the modules will require new chipsets. Intel Corp.'s Grantsdale chipset will support DDR2 when it is launched in the second quarter, and Via Technologies Inc. and Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. are also expected to support DDR2 in forthcoming chipsets.

By 2005, DDR2 prices should be equivalent to DDR400 prices, paving the way for mass adoption. DDR2-400 is not expected to offer a large increase in performance as compared to DDR400. The standard will really begin to shine with later versions that will run at 533MHz and 667MHz.

Rambus Inc. has announced a new memory interface called XDR (extreme data rate). It allows for clock rates as high as 3.2GHz. Micron Technology Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Elpida Memory Inc., Hynix Semiconductor Inc.and Infineon Technologies AG are all currently shipping DDR2 memory chips at 400MHz and 533MHz date rates.

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