Samsung Developed Green Memory Chip

Samsung developed a green memory chip that consumes less energy,less power tapping into a growing demand for green energy-efficient servers.

Samsung claimed the world's highest-density dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip - 4 gigabit (Gb) double data rate (DDR) 3 DRAM chip - which consumes 40 percent less power than conventional 2Gb DDR3 DRAM.

Like its predecessor, the 4 Gb DDR3 DRAM chip is manufactured based on fine and cost-efficient 50-nanometer level processing technology. But the new chip doubles storage capacity and supports a lower voltage of 1.33 V, which helps save energy.

Samsung is the world's top maker of DRAM, which is used for primary storage in PCs, servers and others.

The development came as energy efficiency is increasingly important in the IT sector and demand is growing for larger data storage among server and PC makers.

"For the new generation of green servers, the 4 Gb DDR3's high density, combined with its lower level of power consumption will not only provide a reduction in electricity bills, but also a cutback in installation fees, maintenance fees and repair fees involving power suppliers and heat-emitting equipment," Samsung said in a statement.

"Low power DRAM used to be just nice to have, but now it's a critical requirement from major PC/Server OEMs," Jung Tae-sung, senior vice president of Samsung said at a forum last month.

The new chip not only enables lower power use and higher density, but also faster speed.

It achieves transfer rates of 1.6 Gbps (gigabits per second) at 1.35 V, 20 percent faster than the current industry standard of 1.333 Gbps at 1.5V.

Samsung seeks to leverage its technological prowess to widen the gap with its rivals at a time when global memory chip makers are struggling with tumbling demand due to the global economic meltdown.

The 2 Gb-or-highter DDR3 DRAM will represent 3 percent of the total DRAM market in 2009 and 33 percent in 2011.

From: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/30/200901300061.asp