The evolution of RAM from the SDRAM at the DDR3

One of the components that play a key role in the computer RAM, which must be able to meet the demands of next generation systems.

The evolution of memories over time has had its great important event in 2000 occurred when the transition from old SDRAM (Single Data RAM), which each clock cycle run through a single operation, the DDR (Double Data RAM) who have the great advantage to run two operations at every clock cycle theory doubling in the rate equal frequency.

The technology, however, is always looking for the most extreme performance and therefore were introduced in 2004 in the memory market in 2007 and DDR2 new DDR3 memories.

These will differ from DDR2 mainly for increased performance due to increased frequency. The DDR2 were produced in modules capable of working at a frequency of 1,200 MHz, DD3 already arriving at a frequency of 1,800 and is supposed to reach and maybe exceed the threshold of 2 Ghz.

Such a high frequency naturally generates so much heat and around this problem DDR3 memories are designed are designed to operate with low power supply voltages, which is currently open to 1.5 volts, and for improving the dispersion of heat on this kind of memories are applied dissipates aluminium.

At first sight, then we could say that DDR3 memories are cheaper than previous ones, but a more careful analysis shows that is not true.
The DDR3 memories are based, as the former DDR, technology Double Data-Rate and thereby play double operations in the same number of clock cycles. Like all types of DDR memory, also use temporary storage (prefetch buffers) extremely fast able to accumulate a lot of data first actual use in order to make them readily available when requested. From this point of view the DDR3 have made a step forward as use as a buffer four times compared to that of DDR and twice that of DDR2. Precisely because of the size of prefetch buffers are needed more time to fill this temporary memory. Those times are offset by higher frequencies of new memories. For this reason, it is clear that the first DDR3 operating frequency equal to those of DDR2, will not be much faster than the latter.

Another thing to note is that to move to new DDR3 memories must also change the motherboard. This is because, although the new DDR3 have the same number of contacts and appear similar to the DDR2, the shape of the form does not allow a DDR3 a slot in a motherboard that supports DDR2 RAM.

Considered at the new DDR3 memory, the poor performance compared with DDR2 and the need to change the motherboard perhaps it is better to wait until the technology becomes more mature and we put at the disposal of memories really much more efficient.