Densest Server Memory from Micron Technology

Micron Technology has introduced the world's densest server memory module, a 16-Gigabyte device that enables customers to access mission-critical data more quickly and efficiently.

Data retention, reliability and availability are major concerns for several types of enterprise institutions that process large amounts of data as part of their core business. So many popular applications are powered by the memory technology: sectors like online shopping and banking are lucrative businesses collecting and retaining company data every day, which requires extensive amounts of memory to operate. Maximum memory provides the quick processing response consumers expect when shopping on the Web.

The 16-Gigabyte module encompasses 72 2-Gigabit double data rate 2 (DDR2) die, packaged as 36 4-Gigabit TwinDie components which were developed on Micron's industry leading 78-nanometer 6F process node. Micron's innovative TwinDie stacking technology allows fewer and shorter connection routes to the chips, enabling faster access to customer data and ultra-thin form factors. To grasp the small size of each of these 2-Gigabit DDR2 chips, consider that each die is equal to the size of a letter key on your computer's keyboard.

In addition to maximum memory, Micron produces the broadest range of memory products in the industry specifically designed for the server market. The company currently provides seven generations of server memory with component densities ranging from 64-Megabit through 2-Gigabit. These products represent three technologies: Single Data Rate (SDR), Double Data Rate (DDR) and DDR2.

AMD Opteron for IBM Server

At a company event in New York on Tuesday, AMD together with IBM unveiled the new System x3455, x3655 and x3755 rack-mount servers and the two-way Bladecenter LS21 and four-way LS41 blade servers. According to IBM the new servers powered by Opterons will be available in the next 3 months, but their price will not be specified until the new "Rev F" Opteron is on the market. The “Rev F” Opteron is expected to be shown at LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in San Francisco, on August 15, and it will give IBM an advantage compared to SunFire server line from Sun Microsystems, which uses the “Rev E” chips, according to IBM.

The Opteron is showing strong performance in its overall power consumption and heat production, an increasingly important metric given the rising fuel costs and current data centre consolidation trend. The new family uses a collection of hardware and software technologies called Cool Blue, capable of running the servers with 40% better performance per watt than competing blade chassis. The system reduces server heat emissions by chilling discharged air with a water-cooled door that covers the back of each rack. The technology will be bundled free of charge with all BladeCenter and System x servers. It allows IT departments to monitor actual power usage and heat emissions and limit the amount of power used by a single server.

The new server line from IBM and AMD is targeted at the business sector, which has an increasing hunger for high computing capabilities for general business needs, such as business intelligence, enterprise resource planning and more. The business performance computing is a new compute model that leverages high performance computing capability to more effectively meet such needs.