SK Hynix Inc. has launched the industry’s first DDR5 DRAM. The next-generation, high-speed and high-density DRAM targets big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) applications. Since its first announcement of the first 16-Gigabit (Gb) DDR5 DRAM in November 2018, SK Hynix has provided major partners, including Intel, with sample devices. (Micron Technology started sampling its DDR5 DRAM RDIMM in January 2020.)
SK Hynix said it has conducted joint on-site lab, system-level test, and simulation with system-on-chip (SoC) manufacturers to verify the functions of the DDR5 device. The company also has validated compatibility of its DDR5 and the major components on the DRAM module including the register clock driver (RCD), which affects DRAM performance, and the power management integrated circuit (PMIC).
The DDR5 device supports transfer rate of 4,800 to 5,600 megabit-per-second (Mbit/s), which is 1.8 times faster than the previous generation DDR4 DRAM. It can transmit 9 full-HD (FHD) movies (5 GB each) per second with 5,600 Mbits/s transfer rate. The operating voltage is 1.1 V, down from 1.2 V in the DDR4, which translates into a 20% reduction in power consumption.
The DDR5 features error correcting code (ECC) that can correct even 1-bit-level errors by itself, and increases the reliability of applications by 20 times, said the company. SK Hynix believes the new memories will reduce power consumption and operating costs of data centers thanks to its lower power consumption and improved reliability.
The DDR5 standard was published by JEDEC (JEDEC Solid State Technology Association) in July 2020. SK Hynix said it will focus on the premium server market, solidifying its position as the leading company in server DRAM. Companies supporting the DDR5 ecosystem include Synopsys, Renesas, Montage Technology, and Rambus.
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