2.5Gbps DDR3 from Elpida
Elpida introduces an optimized design based on a copper interconnect process and new circuit technology that not only enables faster speeds but also an ultra-low voltage operation of 1.2V while maintaining the current high-speed DDR3 specifications.
According to the press release, the key features of the new DDR3 SDRAM are as follows:
● Characteristics that achieve a next-generation DDR3 data rate over a range of voltages
Data rate: 667Mbps-2.5Gbps; voltage: 1.2V-1.5V
● Common-die solution for fast operating speed and ultra-low voltage operation
One chip enables a wide range of operating voltages and operating speeds suited not only to new low-voltage/high-speed systems but is also compatible with existing standard 1.5V systems. A product that meets customer demand for all kinds of system designs.
● 25% faster than products with aluminum interconnects and consumes as much as 22% less power.
The improved DDR3 SDRAM chips are intended for applications in the areas of servers and high-end PCs. However, I’m sure most DDR module integrators will also release gaming memory kits based on the copper interconnect chips. Sample shipments are scheduled to begin by the end of August. Elpida staes it won’t stop here; using a process shrink, the Japanese company is willing to enable the new memory product to achieve even faster speeds and lower voltage.
Intel Core i7
According to the press release, the new CPUs based on the Nehalem microarchitecure will be carrying an “i7” identifier and the series will be formerly branded as Intel Core i7. This is the first of several new identifiers to come as different products launch over the next year.
"The Core name is and will be our flagship PC processor brand going forward," said Sean Maloney, Intel Corporation executive vice president and general manager, Sales and Marketing Group. "Expect Intel to focus even more marketing resources around that name and the Core i7 products starting now."
The two logos in the image each stand for different performance specs. The blue logo will be featured on entry-level and mainstream CPUs, while the black logo will appear on high-end “Extreme Edition” models. Intel will include processor model numbers to differentiate each chip.
The first Core i7 CPUs to hit the market are expected to be in production in the fourth quarter of this year. All of these primary CPUs will integrate up to four cores and will continue to offer the Hyperthreading technology that enables CPUs to handle up to 8 simultaneous threads.
ATI Will Only Use Havok
Fudzilla informs that AMD is aware of the fact that Ageia's PhysX (currently NVIDIA’s property) brings cool physics effects to games, but it also causes the graphics performance to drop. This is quite undesirable for AMD, so whenever AMD decides to include Havok in ATI’s GPUs it has to be done right.
AMD aims at making the Physics + Graphics GPU faster than CPU accelerated physics and the FPS that you are getting from a graphics card alone. To achieve this tricky feat, there has to be a dedicated part of the GPU to handle physics while the other part will do graphics. Or ATI could be developing a special chip that handles physics instructions and place it on the same PCB with the GPU. Either way, the memory bandwidth would have to be split in two and frames could be lost.
OCZ Preps 16GB Memory Kits
OCZ is among the first to announce a 16 GB DDR2 800 MHz memory kit consisting of 4 modules, along with the 8GB 800MHz DDR2 Platinum, Gold and Vista Upgrade dual kits.
According to the press release, the last three will consist of two 4GB memory modules. The difference between the two 8GB kits is in the color of XTC heatspreader and the latency at which they work. The OCZ PC2-6400 Platinum 8GB kit runs at 5-4-4-15 timings, the Gold kit 5-5-5-15 and the Vista Upgrade 5-6-6-18. All 8 GB kits need 1.8 Volts and come with extended Voltage protection of up to 1.85 Volts.
The impressiv 16GB Quad kit works at 800MHz with 5-6-6-18 latencies at 1.8 Volts. It also uses black XTC heatspreaders and has an EVP of 1.85 Volts.
OCZ doesn’t mention anything about price and availability. Supposedly, the 16 GB kit will end up costing $600+.
4870X2 Is Upon Us
There are several websites that were allowed to preview the 4870X2 and all of them came to the conclusion that It beats Geforce GTX 280 in most of the tests. Most analysts are tempted to believe that ATI’s card will also be faster than the upcoming GTX 280 55nm version.
ATI went through some rough times last year, but now things seem to be clearing up for the Canadians. ATI really needs to steal NVIDIA’s performance crown this time. The single GPU Radeon 4870 took even NVIDIA by surprise, forcing the green guys to lower the prices and change the strategy.
Apparently, the 2GB of memory that won't really make the card faster than the 1GB version, but it could prove to be perfect for general purpose computing solutions. The standard version of the 4870X2 card will be available for $540 due to the amount of GDDR5 memory present, but ATI’s partners will certainly come up with overclocked models that may push the price a bit higher.
The Catalyst driver that was specifically written for the new card has been ready since the 25th of July. ATI is now waiting for the desired volumes to be reached. Worldwide availability should begin the 21st of August.