Netlist Claims Its HyperCloud Memory Is Faster Than LRDIMM

Netlist, a well known maker of high performance server memory, claims that its HyperCloud DDR3 modules are faster than the more common LRDIMM memory according to the company’s own internal tests.

As Netlist explains, these tests were performed on two identical dual-socket systems powered by Intel’s upcoming Sandy Bridge-E Xeon E5 processors and running 3 DIMMs per channel.

The test results, confirmed that HyperCloud memory is able to achieve the 1333 MT/s (mega transfers per second) speeds touted by the maker for such modules, while LRDIMM is only able to achieve 1066 MT/s.

Both the LRDIMM and HyperCloud technologies were developed in order to enable servers to support higher capacity memory modules.

In the case of the HyperCloud memory modules these rely on a patented rank multiplication technology that allows for the four individual physical ranks of chips to the hidden from the memory controller hub, making it believe regular 2 vRanks memory is used.

"The fundamental difference between HyperCloud and LRDIMM is that HyperCloud is based on a distributed buffer architecture that reduces long data path delays by utilizing multiple small buffers located along the bottom (connector) edge of the module reducing the lengths of data signal paths between the data buffer and DRAMs," stated Dr. Hyun Lee, Chief Technology Officer, Netlist.

"The LRDIMM, in contrast, uses a single buffer architecture that has longer data signal trace lengths between the DRAM and connector because all the data signals have to pass through a single buffer (register) and back out to DRAM."

Netlist HyperCloud memory modules are available in various capacities, ranging from 8 to 32 GB, and were designed to run at 1333MHz or 1066MHz while requiring 1.5V in order to operate.