In the world of memory technology, a new player has entered the game, and its name is MRDIMM. No, it’s not the name of a villain from a James Bond movie or a character from a teen comedy. MRDIMM stands for Multi-Ranked buffered DIMM, and it is backed by both AMD and JEDEC. This new standard aims to revolutionize memory technology by offering monstrously wide, high-capacity, high-bandwidth, and yet relatively cheap DDR5 memory modules.
MRDIMM is based on the concept of RDIMMs, or Registered DIMMs, which are commonly used in servers to improve reliability by buffering control instructions. However, MRDIMM takes this concept a step further by adding multiple ranks of DRAM to the DIMM. This allows for increased memory bandwidth, which is crucial for servers handling heavy AI workloads.
Unlike other high-bandwidth memory solutions, such as HBM, MRDIMM is designed to be cost-effective. By simply modifying the hardware register (the buffer) to accommodate multiple ranks of DRAM, MRDIMM is able to achieve speeds of up to 8,800 MT/s with a capacity of up to 256 GB. This is accomplished by combining two transfers from each rank of DRAM, effectively doubling the bandwidth while adding minimal latency.
The development of MRDIMM has been in the works for some time. In 2022, Intel collaborated with SK Hynix and Renesas to develop MCR DIMMs for Intel servers exclusively. Subsequently, in 2023, JEDEC, with the support of AMD, began working on the DDR5 MRDIMM standard, which is now being introduced to the market by Micron. While initially targeted at Intel Xeon 6 server processors, MRDIMM is expected to become an open standard and be adopted by AMD for its Epyc servers in the near future.
While MRDIMM may not be directly relevant to the average gamer, its introduction signifies a significant advancement in memory technology. The increased bandwidth and capacity offered by MRDIMM modules have the potential to enhance the performance of servers handling complex workloads. Additionally, the development of MRDIMM opens up possibilities for further innovations in memory form factors, such as the upcoming CAMM2.
MRDIMM represents a new era in memory technology, offering a blend of high performance, increased capacity, and cost-effectiveness. As the industry continues to evolve, innovations like MRDIMM pave the way for more efficient and powerful computing systems. Whether you’re a server enthusiast or a casual gamer, the introduction of MRDIMM is something to keep an eye on as it shapes the future of memory technology.
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