DDR5 AXDIMMs: Samsung builds large memory volumes with computing power

As part of Process-in-Memory (PIM), that is, outsourcing memory from a processor or computer accelerator, Samsung also tested key memory capable of computing. Accelerators appeared as DIMMs or AXDIMMs.

For example, unlike HBM-PIM, processing units are not DRAM components, but server RDIMMs on the chip (Processing-in-DIMM, PID) traditionally used to improve signal quality and thus enhance memory capacity. Upcoming AXDIMMs are often compatible with the DDR5 standard, so they are suitable for normal RAM slots instead of RDIMMs, but they are significantly higher than normal modules.

High efficiency, low energy consumption

Idea: AXDIMMs can perform simple arithmetic tasks on servers to reduce data movements between RAM and processor and thus save energy. In addition, memory access should be equally easy in principle because computer units can access all memory banks simultaneously.

For prototypes, Samsung relies on DTR4 components in dual-quality design and a programmable logic chip from Jillink’s Zinc Ultrascale + FPGA family. Combined with Intel’s older Zion CPUs in the Broadwell SP series, computer performance increased by a factor of 1.8 on initial, unspecified tests, while system-wide power consumption dropped by nearly 43 percent.

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Appropriate application displays may be AI computations directly on the RAM module, for example FP16 cores such as HBM-PIM or outsourcing of database software. In early collaboration According to the announcement, Samsung has been working with SAP.

Samsung did not comment on the launch date for the AXDIMM series at Hot-Chips Conference 33. This year, with Intel’s Sapphire Rapids, the first server processors will appear that can handle DDR5 RAM, so the new type is suitable for the memory bar.

(mmma)