Micron Launches New High-Capacity MRDIMM for Enhanced Data Center Performance

Micron Launches New High-Capacity MRDIMM for Enhanced Data Center Performance
Image credit: Micron Technology 

Micron has announced the start of its new multiplexed rank dual inline memory module (MRDIMM). This advanced memory technology is designed for applications requiring over 128GB of memory per DIMM slot. By stacking multiple layers of memory modules and using a data buffer to speed up the connection to the host computer, MRDIMMs enable faster data transfers at standard DDR5 speeds.

MRDIMMs offer significant improvements over traditional TSV RDIMMs, including increased bandwidth, greater capacity, reduced latency, and enhanced performance per watt. These features make them ideal for virtualized environments, high-performance computing (HPC), and AI data center operations. The new memory modules are compatible with Intel's Xeon 6 processors and are part of Micron's latest memory module family.

Micron's Vice President and General Manager of the Compute Products Group, Praveen Vaidyanathan, highlighted the benefits of MRDIMMs for AI inference and HPC applications on next-generation server platforms. He emphasized that MRDIMMs reduce energy consumption per task while maintaining reliability, availability, and serviceability. Micron's industry collaborations ensure these modules integrate seamlessly into existing server infrastructures and future compute platforms.

Designed to adhere to DDR5 physical and electrical standards, MRDIMMs enhance scalability of bandwidth and capacity per core. They provide up to a 39% increase in effective memory bandwidth, over 15% improvement in bus efficiency, and up to 40% reduction in latency compared to RDIMMs. Available in capacities ranging from 32GB to 256GB, these modules cater to both standard and tall form factors, suitable for 1U and 2U high-performance servers. Additionally, MRDIMMs feature an advanced thermal design that reduces DRAM temperatures by up to 20 degrees Celsius, improving cooling efficiency and lowering overall energy consumption for memory-intensive tasks.

Micron plans to begin volume shipping of MRDIMMs in the second half of 2024, coinciding with Intel's launch of its 128 P-core Granite Rapids-AP line. This new platform will be the first to support MRDIMMs at 8800MT/s on the host side, potentially allowing Intel to reclaim the fastest CPU server spot from AMD for the first time in a decade.