Buffalo, a leading supplier of computer components from Japan, has formally unveiled its DDR3 memory modules that can operate at unprecedented speeds of 2.40GHz. The new modules currently exist only as prototypes, but there are a lot of chances that they hit the market shortly. Question is whether enthusiasts of performance will demand them.
Back in August Elpida Memory unveiled DDR3 memory chips that could operate at speeds of 2500MHz, considerably higher compared to currently existing devices that are used to create state-of-the-art memory modules. The new memory devices have 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 conforming to DDR3 specifications.
Buffalo, which managed to get the chips among the first, have developed its own memory modules based on them that achieve 2.40GHz clock-speeds with 2.1V voltage settings and which are the fastest “stock” memory modules in the world.
The manufacturer did not unveil any details regarding its new products as well as test system that managed to overclock DDR3 memory to 2.40GHz (PC3-19200), but the fact that the modules could run at such speeds means that there are platforms that could enable it.
The future of DDR3 memory modules with unprecedented frequencies is under question though. Intel’s future Core i7 central processing units (code-named Bloomfield, Nehalem) feature built-in triple-channel DDR3 memory controller that cannot operate memory at speeds much beyond 1GHz, according to some sources. As a result, going forward the pace of memory clock-speed elevation may decrease.
It is unknown when and at what price Buffalo’s 2.40GHz memory modules hit the market.
