The generational shift in DRAM is in full swing. While Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are producing DDR5 DRAM and taking the lead in the next-generation market, Micron, a formidable competitor, has showcased its technological prowess by releasing next-generation server DRAM in the DDR5 standard.

DDR5 is a next-generation DRAM standard that is attracting attention in the market due to its advantages over the previous generation, DDR4, such as greater bandwidth and faster transfer speeds, lower power consumption, and increased maximum capacity.

On the 29th, Micron Technology (hereinafter referred to as Micron) announced that it will sell Micron DDR5 server DRAM to commercial and industrial channel partners for industry validation work on Intel and AMD's next-generation DDR5 server and workstation platforms.

Micron explained that DDR5 4800MT/s has approximately 1.87 times the bandwidth of DDR4 3200MT/s modules, and that DDR5's release speed is 1.5 times (50%) faster than DDR4 modules. It also emphasized that it increases system performance by up to 85%. Next-generation server DDR5 memory is expected to improve the performance of AI, HPC, and data-intensive applications that require more CPU computational capacity and memory bandwidth than what can be supported with DDR4 technology.

Micron announced that all Micron server DDR5 DRAM optimized for its next-generation product line has been tested for components and modules to ensure they meet mission-critical server standards. DDR5-equipped servers are currently undergoing evaluation and testing in data center environments, with widespread adoption expected starting in the second half of 2022. DDR5's initial data rate is 4800 MT/s, but it is expected to continue to accelerate to meet the demands of future data center workloads. While the initial launch speed is 4800 MT/s, experts anticipate future increases to 5600 and 6400 MT/s.

“As data continues to grow exponentially, the ability to derive insights from that data is critical to business success,” said Teresa Kelly, vice president and general manager of Micron’s Commercial Products Group. “Data center operators need to maximize platform performance through advanced memory capabilities and processor advancements.” She added, “Micron’s DDR5 server DRAM can also manage memory-intensive applications.”

Meanwhile, as a global memory industry leader, Micron has worked with JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) from the beginning to design the DDR5 specification and has supported the early validation of DDR5 across multiple markets through the Micron DDR5 Technology Enablement Program (TEP), the industry's only DDR5 ecosystem implementation program. Micron's DDR5 TEP, with over 400 members from over 160 global companies, aims to simplify DDR5 memory design and integration.