JEDEC has finally finalized the specifications of DDR3. There’s no need to worry that the DDR3 modules available today won’t be compatible with tomorrow’s motherboards though. The final pieces did not involve any drastic changes, nor did they affect the current lineup. The specifications of the modules available today was set long ago and has not been changed. DDR3 modules will have an operating voltage of 1.5V, with the option of higher voltages if its needed to reach higher frequencies. Previous generations have operated at much higher voltages, 1.8V and 2.5V, generating more heat and consuming more power than DDR3.
After the finalization, DDR3 was praised by chairmen from both AMD and Intel saying that DDR3 will lead us into a new era of more efficient and faster memory modules. They emphasized the need of more power efficient memory for mobile systems and that DDR3 will certainly become a key in future mobile products.
“In addition to the introduction of the DDR3 Device Specification, JEDEC is completing publication and release of a wide range of DDR3-based memory modules, including Registered DIMMs, Unbuffered DIMMs, SO (Small Outline) DIMMs and other module types and configurations intended for use in desktop, mobile and server computer systems, telecommunications, point of sale and a wide range of other electronic products. Support devices have also been developed and include registers, PLL’s (phase locked loops) and other interface devices optimized for use with the new technology.”
Regular DDR3 modules will be available at capacities between 512MB up to 8GB, while the top speeds yet remains a mystery. We know for certain that 2GHz is not a problem, even with today’s half-and-half circuits, and we should certainly be able to expect a lot faster modules in the future. We can tell you that for certain.
