(1) D1X is three generations behind D1a, like 18 nm vs 14 nm. (2) The evaluation was done on D1X not D1a, so the D1a process has not been validated yet for production. (3) The D1X process is almost outdated, as D1Y is mainstream now, and as mentioned, the D1X evaluation will not lead to production. (4) D1X has no carryover predictability to D1A, the doses and exposure conditions will be significantly different.
The curved edge connector is not the only telltale sign of a DDR4 DIMM module. Much easier to spot regardless of perspective is the position of the notch, as well as the blank area without contact fingers left of the notch, which clearly spell out its DDR4 (Wikipedia has a handy image which clearly illustrates those distinguishing differences: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR4_SDRAM#/media/Fi...
what about GDDR7? do we know anything about that? if GDDR6 was based on DDR4, why do i not hear anything about a DDR5 based graphics solution ? no sign of any R&D
GDDR5 was first used in 2008, so while DDR 4 was came out to the market in 2014 GDDR 6 wasn't used 4 years later in 2018. even if DDR 5 will come out to the market say next year GDDR7 might be out 4-5 years later considering last generation technology advancement. but even if we won't see GDDR7 for few more years GDDR 6 can improve like GDDR 5 improved it speed over the years from initial 3.6 Gbit/s to 9Gbit/s and 12Gbit/s for GDDR5X.
If Samsung is planning to produce 16Gbit (2GB) LPDDR5 chip in 2021 with EUV Lithography, when could we expect 32Gbit (4GB) LPDDR5 chip or even 64Gbit (8GB) LPDDR5 chip (or will it be 64Gbit (8GB) STT-MRAM by then ?)
This is why I suspect we won’t see full consumer DDR5 platforms prior to 2022. I suspect at least some DDR5 support with Zen 4, but I suspect it will be optional. There are currently no consumer DDR5 parts I am aware of on the market.
The upcoming Zen 3 based CPUs will be the last to use the AM4 socket. Zen 4 CPUs next year will switch to the AM5 socket and (almost certainly) to DDR5 as well. I cannot see how DDR5 support could be "optional" since the DRAM slots will change, and DDR5 is not backwards compatible. Zen 4 based APUs, in turn, should switch to LPDDR5. The LP variant of DDR5 is already a thing (for some premium phones) but I doubt Zen 3 based APUs will support it.
Even though I think that DDR5/LPDDR5 will bring benefits in terms of power consumption, I would be much more interested in the implementation of Non Volatile Memory (NVM) and Storage Class Memory (SCM) through for example the JEDEC NVDIMM-P protocol, which seems to rely somewhat on DDR5 specifications, or alternatively maybe CXL & Gen-z protocol.
I believe the sooner consumer CPU support the use of NVM, the sooner we will see innovation blossom around it like commercialisation of different kind of new NVM (STT-MRAM, ReRAM, Carbon Nanotube NRAM,...) and new system functionalities / behaviors.
As much as I wish that AMD implement this in consumer Zen4 CPU, as it would clearly bring differentiation opportunities to system built around them (depending on the type and quantity of NVM implemented in such system), it seems unlikely for 2021 / 2022... and may have to wait closer to 2025 :(...
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Anymoore - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
Let's get a few things clear:(1) D1X is three generations behind D1a, like 18 nm vs 14 nm.
(2) The evaluation was done on D1X not D1a, so the D1a process has not been validated yet for production.
(3) The D1X process is almost outdated, as D1Y is mainstream now, and as mentioned, the D1X evaluation will not lead to production.
(4) D1X has no carryover predictability to D1A, the doses and exposure conditions will be significantly different.
Tomatotech - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
Maybe I'm blind, but that image seems to be of DDR-3 RAM. DDR-4 has a very noticeable curve on the teeth https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-SDRAM-Memory-Module-Z9...Looking up Google Image search for DDR-4, you can see many images labelled DDR-4 are actually DDR-3, and the differences between the various images.
Ian Cutress - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
It's DDR4. You can tell the connection pins are longer closer to the notch than on the edges.Tomatotech - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
Thanks Ian for clarifying!FreckledTrout - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
You can clearly see there are 280 pins not 240. Im joking, of course I didn't count the pins.InTheMidstOfTheInBeforeCrowd - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
The curved edge connector is not the only telltale sign of a DDR4 DIMM module. Much easier to spot regardless of perspective is the position of the notch, as well as the blank area without contact fingers left of the notch, which clearly spell out its DDR4 (Wikipedia has a handy image which clearly illustrates those distinguishing differences: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR4_SDRAM#/media/Fi...azfacea - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
what about GDDR7? do we know anything about that? if GDDR6 was based on DDR4, why do i not hear anything about a DDR5 based graphics solution ? no sign of any R&DEliadbu - Saturday, March 28, 2020 - link
GDDR5 was first used in 2008, so while DDR 4 was came out to the market in 2014 GDDR 6 wasn't used 4 years later in 2018. even if DDR 5 will come out to the market say next year GDDR7 might be out 4-5 years later considering last generation technology advancement.but even if we won't see GDDR7 for few more years GDDR 6 can improve like GDDR 5 improved it speed over the years from initial 3.6 Gbit/s to 9Gbit/s and 12Gbit/s for GDDR5X.
Diogene7 - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
If Samsung is planning to produce 16Gbit (2GB) LPDDR5 chip in 2021 with EUV Lithography, when could we expect 32Gbit (4GB) LPDDR5 chip or even 64Gbit (8GB) LPDDR5 chip (or will it be 64Gbit (8GB) STT-MRAM by then ?)eek2121 - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
This is why I suspect we won’t see full consumer DDR5 platforms prior to 2022. I suspect at least some DDR5 support with Zen 4, but I suspect it will be optional. There are currently no consumer DDR5 parts I am aware of on the market.haukionkannel - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
True... Maybe servers will move to ddr5 2021 to 2022 and consumers 2022-2023 depending on price.Santoval - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
The upcoming Zen 3 based CPUs will be the last to use the AM4 socket. Zen 4 CPUs next year will switch to the AM5 socket and (almost certainly) to DDR5 as well. I cannot see how DDR5 support could be "optional" since the DRAM slots will change, and DDR5 is not backwards compatible.Zen 4 based APUs, in turn, should switch to LPDDR5. The LP variant of DDR5 is already a thing (for some premium phones) but I doubt Zen 3 based APUs will support it.
Diogene7 - Thursday, March 26, 2020 - link
Even though I think that DDR5/LPDDR5 will bring benefits in terms of power consumption, I would be much more interested in the implementation of Non Volatile Memory (NVM) and Storage Class Memory (SCM) through for example the JEDEC NVDIMM-P protocol, which seems to rely somewhat on DDR5 specifications, or alternatively maybe CXL & Gen-z protocol.I believe the sooner consumer CPU support the use of NVM, the sooner we will see innovation blossom around it like commercialisation of different kind of new NVM (STT-MRAM, ReRAM, Carbon Nanotube NRAM,...) and new system functionalities / behaviors.
As much as I wish that AMD implement this in consumer Zen4 CPU, as it would clearly bring differentiation opportunities to system built around them (depending on the type and quantity of NVM implemented in such system), it seems unlikely for 2021 / 2022... and may have to wait closer to 2025 :(...
asmian - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
>The latter will be beneficiary for productionA beneficiary is one who benefits. You mean *beneficient*.
Alistair - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
will benefit productionksec - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - link
> and capacity (up to 32 Gbps)That is a typo.