Micron unveiled new information about its GDDR5X graphics memory, and it looks like the next-gen chip will reach its customers later this year.
The team behind the GDDR5X aimed to design a graphics memory that could run twice as fast as standard GDDR5 devices. This means that the challenge was to build GDDR5X so that it operates in the range of 10-14 GBps.
"It's [...] going to offer compelling value and a better end-customer experience across a wide range of graphics sub-segments," Kristopher Kido, Micron's global Director for Graphics Memory Business, says.
The latest update on the graphics chips happened in September, and Micron has quite a few new details to share.
The first components already exited the manufacturing stage, and volume production is expected to begin during the summer. Not only that progress was made faster than expected, but the speeds reached by the devices are inspiring: the first operational memory chips work at over 13 GBps.
It should be noted that the first generation of GDDR5X from Micro is an 8 GB (1GB) density, which is manufactured on a 20-nanometer process technology.
Check out the official site to learn more about the JEDEC specs for GDDR5X.
GDDR5X comes with a few new tricks up its sleeve to make it future-proof and compliant with high-end graphics systems. Thanks to the first components now outside the work bench, it is clear that QDR mode is a sure way for the industry to obtain high-speed data rates of 13 Gbps or higher. This is even more impressive, as it happens on a discrete memory device.
Not only is the speed better, but the power drain is significantly lower. Thanks to the VDD/VDDQ of 1.35V, the power demand remains low while the performance is moderate. The system signal integrity got improved, as well. Better electrical performance comes from a new package with reduced ball pitch, which in turn allows shorter PCB traces.
Here are the main features that make the difference in Micron's GDDR5X graphics memory: the QDR mode enables the unmatched 13 Gbps data rate, VDD/VDDQ of 1.35V increases the power per bit ratio, and the 190-ball FBGA Package, 0.65 mm pitch makes sure the memory chips get more efficient in power consumption.
The next-gen graphics ecosystem will see a huge leap forward due to the new system data rate implemented in a discrete component. Another advantage of the discrete components is that they maintain BOM cost at a profitable level (in line with that of GDDR5) by using the current manufacturing infrastructure.
GDDR5X makes way for multiple frame buffer sizes. For example, developers can run GDDR5X in x32 or x16. Higher speed bins are also available, so overclocking is an option with the new graphics memories.
"We plan to be in full volume production this summer," Kido tells of Micron's future plans.
He goes on to say that the company sees GDDR5X's potential to reach 14 Gbps and more in the future, and promises that updates on the development will reach the media as soon as possible.
It is not the first time Micron is taking the revolutionary approach to high-performance hardware. In October 2014, Micron started working on a new co-processor technology called Automata Processor.
It surely is a great period for Micron and its future customers have a lot to look forward to.
