14 DAY TRIAL // It might look like it from how often they show up in the news, but 8 GB memory modules actually aren't all that common. They definitely don't come cheap, and they aren't easy to make in unusual form factors, like the ULP Planar Mini-UDIMM that SMART Modular has just chosen.
ULP Planar Mini-UDIMM, where ULP stands for ultra-low profile, is a type of memory module narrower than even LP.
And while it might be possible to squeeze enough normal DRAM chips on an LP module to enable 8 GB capacities, the same can't be said for ULP.
Well, that's what we would have said until yesterday. Now, though, the first ULP module that doesn't use dual-die stacked DRAM has been revealed.
That means that the 8 GB ULP Planar Mini-UDIMM module is a lot cheaper than all alternatives, while not suffering from any drawbacks.
It's a pretty refreshing change from the usual routine, which causes a new design breakthrough to usually raise the product price before it settles down again, some time later.
Then again, the whole point here was to cut on the price, to gain contracts from makers of HTPCs, enterprise customers, server builders, etc.
The key to the cheaper 8 GB ULP Planar Mini-UDIMM was doubling the number of DRAM placements. Instead of 9, SMART Modular can install 18 now. Thus, it was possible to use cheap 4 Gb chips instead of 8 Gb ones.
"SMART continuously strives to achieve cost savings for its OEM customers," stated Srida Joisa, SMART's director of corporate business development and DRAM business unit.
"The 8 GB ULP Planar Mini-UDIMM is another step in that direction, helping OEMs achieve their cost reduction goals for long life cycle applications."
In case you find the use of ULP odd, it's pretty much the same as VLP (very low profile), or mini-UDIMM. These memory modules are best suited for industrial applications, telecom and networking devices, but mini PCs and media players with smart features, or particularly short HTPCs could use the new product too.
Samples of the SMART Modular 8 GB ULP Planar Mini-UDIMM are shipping at an unspecified price, which is a crying shame. It’s not easy to see how much more cost-convenient the RAM is if we can't even make a comparison. Corporate buyers will have to call in and start to haggle, we suppose. As for the performance, it is of DDR3-1600 MHz on 1.35V (low voltage).