Overview of RAM Technologies: RdRAM and DDR SDRAM

Introduction

• PCs typically use DDR5, DDR4, or possibly DDR3 RAM.
• In 1999, Rambus released a memory type called RDRAM.

RDRAM Characteristics

• Design:

  • Used a 16-bit bus instead of the standard 64-bit, allowing for faster clock speeds.
  • Implemented double data rate concepts, sending two data signals per clock cycle.

• Market and Use:

  • Initially successful, used in Nintendo 64 for its 3D games.
  • Partnered with Intel for its Pentium 4 CPU lineup.

Challenges with RDRAM

• Cost and Performance:

  • Expensive for average computer users.
  • High latency, high power consumption, and generated significant heat.
  • Required installation in pairs or with a dummy continuity module.

• Competition:

  • DDR SDRAM introduced in 2000 offered similar performance at a lower cost.
  • By 2003, DDR SDRAM became the standard in new PCs.

Rambus's Legal and Business Issues

• Engaged in lawsuits for patent infringement against companies like Samsung and Nvidia.
• Developed a reputation for anti-competitive behavior, faced scrutiny from the FTC and EU.
• Eventually shifted strategies, settling lawsuits and focusing on memory controllers.

Conclusion

• Although RDRAM was a commercial failure, Rambus endured and shifted to a more collaborative approach.
• Investing in Rambus could have been profitable over a decade.

Additional Resource

• Check another video on "How DDR Works" for more insights into memory technology.