Samsung reveals DDR5 memory module that’s ready for Compute Express Link

Samsung has shown off a picture of what it says is the first DDR5 DRAM-based memory module that can talk the language of Compute Express Link (CXL). As we noted when CXL 2.0 debuted in late 2020, the tech is all about moving data more quickly between processors and devices such as GPUs, SmartNICs and pools of memory. By …

[tip pc]

How long before DDR5 arrives in a phone?

High end phones tend to get the cutting edge bits before consumers so will be interesting to see who jumps first.

Low power and high throughput will add to longer battery life etc.

[Ross 12]

Re-invention of the wobbly RAM-pack

Does it come with blu-tak?

[Anonymous Coward]

the future ?

CXL is a consortium rather than an optane lock-in ....

[Pascal Monett]

Don't get it

There are obviously many much more intelligent people than me that have worked on this (not difficult), but I fail to understand how something that has less connectors than a proper DDR5 RAM stick can be faster.

Can anyone enlighten me ?

[scott2718282828]

Re: Don't get it

A parallel interface seems like it should have a higher bandwidth, but keep in mind that all those connections must be electrically isolated and synchronized. You have to route connections for 300 pins for DDR5, and try to keep each path roughly the same length to keep the signals in phase (plus same inductance, capacitance, and characteristic impedance).

Increasing the speed of one transceiver is easier than speeding up parallel transceivers while keeping them in lockstep. This is why USB has replaced older parallel connections for keyboards, mice, and printers, and why serial SAS replaced SCSI for disk drives.

[guyr]

Re: Don't get it

This is why USB has replaced older parallel connections

And why PCIe (serial) replaced PCI (parallel.)

[Pascal Monett]

Interesting points, and I think I get the gist of it.

But then my question is : why does RAM still have so many connectors ?

[Anonymous Coward]

A terabyte of ram?

That's almost enough to run windows!