Intel IDF 2008: 16GB DDR3 Memory Modules With MetaRam

Running 16GB Density Modules For 160GB

This system doesn’t look as impressive on the one on the previous page, but looks can be decieving. This server only has 10 memory modules, but they are each 16GB!Hynix just announced today that they are using MetaRAMs new DDR3 technology in its next generation R-DIMMs, including the worlds first 16GB 2-rank DIMM that are pictured above.

Under the blue heat spreaders you can see how these DDR3 modules are able to reach 16GB densities as the layout is like two memory modules stacked on top of eachother with the MetaRAM chipsets inbetween the two modules. These MetaRAM chipsets make multiple DRAMs look like a larger capacity DRAM to the memory controller. The result is stealth high-capacity memory that circumvents the normal limitations set by the memory controller. When it comes to performance it looks like they have the right stuff too:

DDR3 MetaRAM is similar to the previous generation DDR2 technology in that it enables significantly more memory in a server. An added benefit of the DDR3 MetaRAM technology is that it enables larger memory capacity without negatively impacting the operating frequency of the DDR3 memory channel. It is the only technology that has been demonstrated to run 24GB of DDR3 SDRAM in a channel at 1066 million transactions per-second (MT/s). Using 3 16GB DIMM modules, users can achieve 48GB per channel running at 1066 MT/s, while other competing solutions max out at 16GB per channel at 1066MT/s.

Here is a closer look at the 16GB modules to give you a better idea of just how tall they are.

The QuikView demo that both test systems were using used roughly 100GB of memory. According to QlikTech, they developed a tool for analyzing multi-dimensional data for a client and then, based on this tool, developed QlikView, named after a point-and-click-simple way to view data and information and based on their patented in-memory associative technology. The demo was most impressive, as it should be, and showed what a difference MetaRAM makes in the server market.