How fast is fast-II

[dawgtuff]

I've heard that SDRAM may be slower than the new CPU's coming out in the next year(700mhz+),and the new ram is RDRAM.Anyone know the story on this?

[socalgal]

here's some info I found.

Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) is a memory subsystem that promises to transfer up to 1.6 billion bytes per second. The subsystem consists of the RAM, the RAM controller, and the bus (path) connecting RAM to the microprocessor and devices in the computer that use it. Direct Rambus (DRDRAM), a technology developed and licensed by the Rambus Corporation, will be used with Intel microprocessors beginning in 1999. High-speed RAM is expected to accelerate the growth of visually intensive interfaces such as 3-D, interactive games, and streaming multimedia. Rambus is intended to replace the current main memory technology of dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Much faster data transfer rates from attached devices such as videocams using Firewire and the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) make it important to reduce the bottleneck in getting data into the computer, staging it in RAM, and moving it throught the microprocessor and to the display or other output devices.

Direct Rambus (DRDRAM) provides a two-byte (16 bit) bus rather than DRAM's 8-bit bus. At a RAM speed of 800 megahertz (800 million cycles per second), the peak data transfer rate is 1.6 billion bytes per second. Direct Rambus uses pipelining to move data from RAM to cache memory levels that are closer to the microprocessor or display. Up to eight operations may be underway at the same time. Rambus is designed to fit into existing motherboard standards. The components that are inserted into motherboard connections are called Rambus in-line memory modules (RIMMs). They can replace conventional DIMMs.

A proposed alternative to DRDRAM is SyncLink DRAM (SLDRAM).

Selected Links
Rambus offers a number of papers in Portable Document Format (PDF).


First, SIMMs, then DIMMs, looks like RIMMs are next. Sounds pretty good just reading it.

The article says it works with "Intel microprocessors" - So what about AMD? Will it work with K6 - 7's?

Got that info from www.whatis.com (http://www.whatis.com) where there are other links on the subject.

The SLDRAM design features a high-speed interface of 400 megabits per second per pin. This gives a single chip a total data transfer rate equal to 800 Megabytes per second - eight times faster than current SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) technology. At that speed, you can transfer data equivalent to the complete Encyclopedia Britannica, including graphics and photos, in about three seconds.


www.sldram.com/ (http://www.sldram.com/)

portal.online.ee/article5166.html (http://portal.online.ee/article5166.html)

finally, even something even I can understand...
http://www.hpl.hp.com/dram/dramfaq.htm


i guess i got a little carried away... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 05-05-99).]

[Roy]

Way to go, socalgal! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

The next FSB is likely to be 133MHz. Much of the CL2 PC100 that's in use now will run at 133 CL3.

[dawgtuff]

Socogal,
Thanks for all the info.I think I may hold off on that P3-500 I was thinking of buying next year,and keep my little PII-266 for a while longer(course you never know!)...Peace.

Roy,
Thanks for your input too,buddy.

[nimrod]

not much point letting life pass you by !!!,get it now,you can guarantee it will be cheaper next week, if you wait for the next generation chips you'll be waiting for ever, like which video card to buy,because another upgrade is coming out virtually every other month