Samsung has introduced a brand new era of DDR5 RAM (opens in new tab), claimed to be the world’s first “12nm class” reminiscence. Samsung says compatibility analysis with AMD Ryzen 7000 Collection (opens in new tab) platforms is already full, so the chips are able to drop into AM5 motherboards.
This new 12nm-class DRAM is alleged to be good for speeds of as much as 7.2Gbps, translating into 60GB/s of bandwidth at a system-wide degree. Samsung additionally claims the brand new reminiscence chips can stake declare to the business’s highest information density.
“This technological leap was made doable by using a brand new high-Okay materials that will increase cell capacitance, and proprietary design know-how that improves crucial circuit traits. Mixed with superior, multi-layer excessive ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, the brand new DRAM options the business’s highest die density, which permits a 20 p.c acquire in wafer productiveness,” Samsung’s launch says (opens in new tab).
Energy consumption can be down by 23% in contrast with Samsung’s current cutting-edge DDR5. The brand new DDR5 retains the identical 16Gb per-chip capability.
In fact, in all of this it is price noting the important thing qualifier, specifically using the phrase “class”. Simply as with the method know-how utilized by Intel and TSMC for CPUs and GPUs, the time period “12nm” does not truly map to the bodily dimension of components throughout the reminiscence chips. It is extra a relative time period that positions the brand new reminiscence in Samsung’s product stack.
By means of instance, different reminiscence producers, together with SK Hynix and Micron, make declare to 10nm-class DDR5 chips. And but Samsung says this new DDR5 is the densest but. Advertising and marketing numbers, eh?
Anyway, what we will hope for is that this “12nm” stuff drives down costs for DDR5 additional on account of that new density. The chips needs to be smaller and cheaper to make. To that impact, Samsung says, “our 12nm-range DRAM will likely be a key enabler in driving market-wide adoption of DDR5 DRAM.”
As to when, precisely, this market-wide adoption will occur, it is not completely imminent. Mass manufacturing is about to start in 2023, so we’re in all probability a minimum of three months away from seeing reminiscence DIMMs with the brand new chips.
DDR5 costs have come down lots since Intel’s Alder Lake grew to become the primary CPU to make use of the brand new customary late final yr. However costs are nonetheless getting on for double that of DDR4. So this is hoping this new 12nm Samsung equipment retains these costs tumbling, nevertheless large the bits inside truly are.
