Samsung is demonstrating its 64 GB DDR4 memory module based on 16 Gb chips this week at the OCP U.S. Summit. The 64 GB RDIMM that the company is showcasing is designed for mainstream servers, but ultimately the design will lend itself to build 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules for high-performance servers, the company said.
Samsung’s monolithic 16 Gb DDR4 DRAM chips are rated for DDR4-2666 at the industry-standard 1.2 V. The chips are produced using an advanced manufacturing technology, but Samsung does not disclose details at the moment (it is logical to expect Samsung to use its '10-nm-class' tech though). The only thing we do know is that the fabrication process and monolithic die enable 20% lower power consumption of the demonstrated 64 GB RDIMM when compared to a module of the same capacity based on 8 Gb DDR4 chips.
In addition to the new dual-rank 64 GB RDIMM module, Samsung is set to develop quad-ranked 128 GB RDIMMs and octal-ranked 256 GB LRDIMMs. Today’s servers running AMD’s EPYC or Intel’s Xeon Scalable M-suffixed processors feature 12 or 16 memory slots - if the processors were capable of fitting all 256 GB modules, this could lead up to 4 TB per socket. This should be a massive advantage for applications like in-memory databases, virtual desktop infrastructure, and so on.
When it comes to desktop/workstation ecosystem (again, assuming that appropriate processors and platforms can support them), the new memory chips from Samsung might let makers of modules build 32 GB UDIMMs. The latter will enable PC makers and DIY enthusiasts to install 256 GB of DRAM into high-end desktops/workstations.
Samsung says that the 16 Gb chips are available to its customers now, but naturally does not disclose names of its clients interested in them. The company also does not reveal an MSRP of its 64 GB RDIMMs, but since these products are aimed at servers, they will be sold at appropriate prices. As for pricing of 128 GB and 256 GB memory modules, only time will tell. For example, Crucial sells its 128 GB DDR4-LRDIMM for $3999.99 in retail, so lower-power, and higher-capacity modules would cost considerably higher.
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