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Samsung enables 16GB memory modules
New 50nm 2Gb memory chips can enable 16GB memory modules, while promising greater yields and lower power consumption
With 64-bit operating systems becoming more mainstream, and virtualisation getting ever more popular, the demand for more and more RAM appears to be escalating. At least, that’s what Samsung certainly thinks, as the company claims that that it’s now sampling the smallest 2Gb (256MB) DDR3 chips, which will enable 16GB memory modules.
The chips are produced on a 50nm process, and Samsung claims that this not only means that the chips consumer just ‘over 40 percent of the power of 1Gb DDR3 memory modules,’ but that the production rate is also ‘60 percent higher than DDR2 devices of an equivalent density.’
The small size of the chips means that 8GB memory modules (and 4GB SODIMMS for laptops), can be made in a standard chip-configuration. Meanwhile, Samsung says that dual-die packages using the new technology could enable 16GB modules. Samsung claims that the new chips are capable of faster speeds than standard 1Gb chips too, quoting a data rate of 1.3Gb/sec at 1.5V or 1.35V for a new 2Gb chip, compared with 800Mb/sec for a 1Gb dual-die package.
Samsung Semiconductor’s vice president of memory, Jim Elliott, said that the company had ‘focused on maximising density alternatives and power savings,’ adding that this would make Samsung’s ‘2Gb DDR3 solution as flexible as possible for designers.’ The new chips will also enable memory module makers to use fewer memory chips on lower-capacity modules, resulting in less heat.
Could you find a use for 16GB memory modules, or is 2GB or 4GB enough for you at the moment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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And I remember my very first computer upgrade - converting a Speccy from a 16K rubber keyboard to the '+' mod 48K with plastic keys. You don't even need to use a soldering iron any more;) Re: Bill's 640K being enough - maybe he should pass that on to the Windows design team, cut out some of the bloat.
Comment by slowmongoose at 9:39pm 2nd March 2009
I'm a keen gamer/graphics editor + like using movie editing packages, which is why I have four 2Gb RAMs. Most recent games use upto 4Gb anyway (maxed out). It would be great for starters, if programmers stopped trying to make use of Virtual Memory as matter of course and assessed if the program could use excess RAM instead of the harddisk. I often play games with the PCs hdd churning away with just 3Gb of RAM used out of 8Gb. Loading up lots of Photoshop images needs lots of RAM + scratch disk. DDR2 is dirt cheap for the increase in speeds you get - which is why you should use all your RAM slots for faster loading + more productivity. They didn't do DDR3 2Gb modules when I bought my mobo, otherwise I would've bought it. But for the next 2-3 years, there isn't any game or application (which I currently use) that uses more than 5Gb, but its good to know theres excess if its needed.
Comment by champmanfan2 at 4:21am 6th October 2008
Bring it on... i'm a graphic designer and believe me there's never enough RAM in a machine, especially when multitasking between 3D and 2D graphics packages. Each time the software gets updated they all seem to get the hunger for more RAM. Well done Samsung keep up the good work by they way can I get one of these fitted to my head I keep forgetting stuff... by they way can I get one of these fitted to my head I keep forgetting stuff...by they way can I get one of these fitted to my head I keep forgetting stuff... just kidding ;~)
Comment by Unclemonkeyman at 11:31am 4th October 2008
Bring it on... i'm a graphic designer and believe me there's never enough RAM in a machine, especially when multitasking between 3D and 2D graphics packages. Each time the software gets updated they all seem to get the hunger for more RAM. Well done Samsung keep up the good work by they way can I get one of these fitted to my head I keep forgetting stuff... by they way can I get one of these fitted to my head I keep forgetting stuff...by they way can I get one of these fitted to my head I keep forgetting stuff... just kidding ;~)
Comment by Unclemonkeyman at 11:31am 4th October 2008
Sound great, at the moment it is definitely a boost to hae4GB on vista, especially if you play games like Crysis ext. Would probably work for Windows7. Doesn't Vista have some nonsense 8 GB limitation, and then there is the issue of finding a MoBo
Comment by psychot1c at 4:31am 4th October 2008
i do quite a bit of video editing and let me tell you 16bg will be a god send. When you are rendering a moive in after efects for example the movie is rendered onto the RAM because the data transfere is simply to much for a HDD to handle without severd Slowdowns. 16gb will make encoding large (2hr + ) movies a lot quicker.
Comment by Devlin1991 at 12:37pm 3rd October 2008
There's a remake waiting to happen. You're just showing off now with the Printer! I remember playing JetPack and then I got one of those ZX Spectrum 128 with the floppy drive. Christ it was rubbish. I had a mate of mine who even got his Spectrum to knit him a jumper. Now that is just classy. How many can say their £2,000 PC can help knit them a jumper? Maybe I should rephrase that. How many here would want to? Yes I know you can print T-shirts and stuff but this guy had his Spectrum attached to a bloody sewing machine in his living room. The worst part was they all sat there wearing them. His kids probably don't speak to him now.
Comment by crazyceo at 12:05pm 30th September 2008
Hell i had a zx Spectrum ... the 48k one tho lol ... even had the stupid printer that burned the image onto the paper ... mind you we decoded manic miner on it and put in our own rooms and graphics !!!!
Comment by rabbiehippo at 11:38pm 29th September 2008
Hell i had a zx Spectrum ... the 48k one tho lol ... even had the stupid printer that burned the image onto the paper ... mind you we decoded manic miner on it and put in our own rooms and graphics !!!!
Comment by rabbiehippo at 11:38pm 29th September 2008
on top of the expansion card? I did that as well. Vic20 was my first PC and sh!te it was too!
Comment by crazyceo at 10:36pm 29th September 2008
doesnt feel that long ago since I proudly walked home and showed my dad that i bought the 2kb upgrade for my Vic 20, which gave it a massive total of 7kb of memory to play around with. Well it was 1981 so i guess it was a while ago
Comment by jonisaksson at 8:13pm 29th September 2008
I think that 8 or 16GB is soon due... I have 4GB and I have already started to see its limitations... I would definateley reccomend that anyone who is thinking of moving to x64 definately gets 8GB minimum... I don't think that 4GB will be reccomended for too much longer... (that is just my opinion btw)
Comment by NikoBellic at 4:48pm 29th September 2008
Just a little tip about using all 4 DIMM slots with 8gb ... You need to increase the RAM voltage to slightly over the recommend. Not sure if FatterTony had same issues but PC runs smooth as fk now. Best thing to do is check with official manufacturers if you suffer crashes etc.
Comment by CSQuake at 1:43pm 29th September 2008
... you won't need, so be prepared to spend an hour getting it working smoothly. Turn off all the crap you don't need. I only play Crysis now. I did play Conan on it and I didn't suffer any memory leaks at all - most, if not all 32 bit players seemed to suffer that problem ... but then, the memory leaks were coding problems not OS. It sees my 8gb perfectly, loading times are massively improved, encoding etc is excellent compared to 3.5gb 32bit OS's.
Comment by CSQuake at 1:40pm 29th September 2008
Vista as well! Not seen that for a while on this site. Thanks Guys! I think I will dive in now instead of just getting my feet wet.
Comment by crazyceo at 1:24pm 29th September 2008
Vista x64 for over a year - and while it was a bit of a pain to start with, it's great now. No compatibility issues, runs all the games etc, sees my 8Gb of RAM :) While I'm the first to aknowledge that I don't NEED it - I'd also be one of the first in the queue for 16Gb RAM - and if that's modules - I'll have 4x16Gb please.
Comment by FatterTony at 1:08pm 29th September 2008
Vista x64 for over a year - and while it was a bit of a pain to start with, it's great now. No compatibility issues, runs all the games etc, sees my 8Gb of RAM :) While I'm the first to aknowledge that I don't NEED it - I'd also be one of the first int he queue for 16Gb RAM - and if that's modules - I'll have 4x16Gb please.
Comment by FatterTony at 1:08pm 29th September 2008
Vista x64 in my experience is actually more stable than 32. Gaming is not a problem. Also vista is very good at chaching memory so if you find yourself leaving the machine on over several days you should see startup times of reguarly used programs improve. Do not assume high RAM usage as Vista being bloated. Assume anything above 0.5 Gig to be related to caching. Personally I find the system reallys loves having 4gig with crysis. Also I often find myself having issues when virtualising many machines at once. I have been tempted to upgrade to 8gig. Though I could consider 16 it would have to be DDR2 though. DDR3 would force me to upgrade my mobo etc.
Comment by reashlin at 1:04pm 29th September 2008
I've been using x64 Vista for nearly a year now and now it's SP1 it's just as stable as 32 bit. I recommend.
Comment by joeamnesiac at 1:02pm 29th September 2008
I'll just wait for Windows 7 and get the 64 bit version of that.
Comment by l3v1ck at 1:03pm 29th September 2008
It's great. Its stable, it works fine, no compatiblity issues either. All of my games work just fine.
Comment by gavomatic57 at 12:55pm 29th September 2008
Give it a few years we'll all be using 16GB but it's far too much for today... 2GB is definitely the sweet spot at the moment, 4GB only comes into its own with a 64bit OS and then only for visualising OSs and image/video editing
Comment by thewelshbrummie at 12:47pm 29th September 2008
Although I haven't dived into the 64-bit OS due to horror stories of compatibility. I think if the price is right, you have to go with as much RAM as you can. If you don't use it now, I'm sure you will find something in future that will put demands on your systems resources. I think I might just blow the dust of that copy of Vista 64-bit I was sent and give it a try. Anyone experience good or bad with 64-bit Vista and gaming?
Comment by crazyceo at 12:48pm 29th September 2008
Sorry, Custom PC comments are now closed.
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