Elpida outs 1Gb, 29GB per second XDR memory
updated 11:15 am EST, Tue January 20, 2009
Elpida 1 Gigabit XDR RAM
Elpida this morning set what it believes is a new benchmark for memory with the launch of the first 1-gigabit XDR RAM with 32-bit bandwidth. The storage not only makes large amounts of fast memory possible but is also billed as some of the fastest memory of any kind. A 7.2GHz clock speed along with the extra bandwidth gives the memory much more headroom: the new XDR chip has up to 28.8GB per second, or about nine times more than the fastest stock DDR3 memory and twice as much as Elpida's previous best.
The part regardless runs on a relatively low 1.5V power draw.
Elpida expects the memory to be particularly useful for media devices that transfer large amounts of HD video, 3D and other data, such as set-top boxes, game consoles and Blu-ray players. It also expects further refinements to render XDR suitable for cellphones and portable media players. Sony is one of the most frequent users of XDR and depends on it for the PlayStation 3.
Samples have already been sent to third parties for the memory, which should start mass production in April.
