RAM trends at Computex: More speed and capacity
At Computex, RAM manufacturers are showing CQDIMMs with 128 GB capacity and CUDIMMs with up to DDR5-8000. The memory crisis is also a topic.
(Image: Christian Hirsch / heise medien)
The trend towards ever faster and larger RAM for desktop PCs is also evident at the IT trade fair Computex in Taiwan: Taiwanese manufacturer Dato is presenting Clock Unbuffered DIMMs (CUDIMMs) with DDR5-8000 RAM, which achieve this speed without overclocking profiles like EXPO and XMP, and thus without increased voltage. At Adata's booth, there are CUDIMMs with DDR5-7200 – the maximum that Intel's current desktop CPU generation Core Ultra 200S Plus can achieve according to specifications.
(Image:Â Christian Hirsch / heise medien)
CUDIMMs achieve high clock frequencies through resolved clock amplifiers that refresh the signal from the memory controller in the CPU. Currently, only Intel supports this technology with LGA1851 processors, i.e., Core Ultra 200 alias Arrow Lake. AMD's AM5 CPUs from the Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series can only control conventional DDR5 Unbuffered DIMMs (UDIMMs). When asked, AMD explained in a conversation with c't on-site in Taipei that this is due to technical reasons. The RAM controller in the current I/O Die is not suitable for this.
(Image:Â Christian Hirsch / heise medien)
DIMMs with four ranks for double capacity
For higher capacities, the JEDEC industry consortium responsible for RAM introduced the Clocked Quad-Ranked DIMMs (CQDIMMs) module variant a few months ago, also referred to as 4R-DIMMs. This doubles the maximum capacity from 64 GB to 128 GB per module because they carry twice as many chips. Standard DIMMs and CUDIMMs have one or two ranks in which the memory chips are organized. CQDIMMs have four. However, the modules only work on motherboards with one DIMM per channel, meaning a maximum of two in total. Thus, the maximum capacity remains 256 GB. This technology is particularly interesting for Mini-ITX motherboards with limited space. Among others, Teamgroup shows us CQDIMMs and a demo system.
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Fighting scarcity
The RAM crisis is currently occupying memory module manufacturers significantly. They are buying every memory chip they can get. Prices play no role, as the major AI hyperscalers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are buying up almost everything. Until now, smaller manufacturers primarily sourced their RAM from giants like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix. Now, smaller manufacturers like Etron, Nanya, and Winbond, or the Chinese manufacturer ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) are increasingly involved.
(Image:Â Christian Hirsch / heise medien)
DDR4 RAM is in particularly high demand because many end customers and smaller companies are increasingly opting for older CPU platforms like AMD AM4 and Intel LGA1700 for new purchases, as DDR5 RAM is so expensive. In China and India, there is now a market for refurbished DIMMs from decommissioned servers. CPU manufacturers are also feeling this. According to AMD, the ratio of processors sold in Western Europe and the USA has shifted from around 80 percent AM5/DDR5 to 20 percent AM4/DDR4 to 60:40. In China, India, and Eastern Europe, the share of AM4 is even higher. AMD recently announced the reintroduction of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D for AM4 motherboards.
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