GDDR5, an abbreviation for Graphics Double Data Rate Five, is a type of synchronous graphics random-access memory (SGRAM) that offers an ultra-high memory bandwidth interface with low system implementation costs. This makes DDR5 an ideal Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) for graphics cards, game consoles, and high-performance computing.
Architecture of GDDR5
GDDR5 uses the 8N prefetch architecture in order to facilitate high-speed operations leading to better overall performance. With the 8n-prefetch architecture, the internal data bus is eight times as wide as the I/O interface to and from the memory core operating at anywhere from 256 to 512 Bits. This allows GDDR5 to have an ultra-high bandwidth that offers double data rate. While only operating at one-eighth of the I/O data rate for better efficiency.
Key Features of GDDR5
The key features of GDDR5 SDRAM include an ultra-high memory bandwidth, adaptive interface timing for stable system operation, data integrity including improved error detection and correction, and data eye optimization which allows for high signal quality and performance at a lower PCB cost.
Advantages of GDDR5(GDDR5 vs DDR4)
There are various advantages of GDDR5 SDRAM when compared to previous DRAM versions such as DDR4. Though DDR4 has the same prefetch buffer size of 8n, GDDR5 offers a much higher memory bandwidth while also being more efficient. This allows it to perform significantly faster than DDR4 in basically all implementations. Moreover, GDDR5 has adaptive interface timing that negates the need for trace length matching, has better data integrity with improved transmission error detection and correction, while maintaining its relatively low cost along with numerous other performance advantages.
History of GDDR5
GDDR5 SDRAM was introduced in 2007 by JEDEC and is the enhanced version of GDDR4 SGRAM, which was introduced in 2005. The next version of GDDR5 was GDDR5X, which was standardized by JEDEC in January 2016, and the current version is GDDR6 whose finalized specification was published by JEDEC in July 2017.
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