Cadence makes 7nm DDR5 test chip that runs at 4400MHz

Posted on Thursday, May 03 2018 @ 10:39 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
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Software and chip verification firm Cadence Design Systems announced it created a prototype of its first IP interface in silicon for a preliminary version of JEDEC's DDR5 standard. The DDR5 test chip was made using TSMC's 7nm process and achieves a frequency of 4400MHz. Cadence Design Systems licenses this IP to other firms.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNS) today announced it has prototyped its first IP interface in silicon for a preliminary version of the DDR5 standard being developed in JEDEC. The Cadence test chip was fabricated in TSMC’s 7nm process and achieves a 4400 megatransfers per second (MT/sec) data rate, which is 37.5 percent faster than the fastest commercial DDR4 memory at 3200MT/sec. With this key milestone, SoC providers developing high-speed memory subsystems for high-end server, storage and enterprise applications can start developing their DDR5 memory subsystems now with silicon-tested PHY and controller IP from Cadence. For more information, please visit: www.cadence.com/go/ddr5iptestchip.

“TSMC recognizes the importance of next-generation DRAM for our enterprise and data center customers,” said Suk Lee, senior director of the Design Infrastructure Marketing Division at TSMC. “We’re pleased Cadence has proven interoperability with prototype DDR5 memory devices in our industry-leading 7nm process. This demonstrates a path to higher bandwidth and density for future server and storage devices manufactured at TSMC.”

“As part of Cadence’s DDR PHY validation and interoperability program, Micron has provided Cadence with engineering prototypes of the first memory for a preliminary version of the DDR5 standard,” said Ryan Baxter, director of Data Center segment, Compute and Networking Business Unit, at Micron. “We are enthusiastic that Cadence’s DDR5 IP test chip is able to interoperate consistently with our DDR5 prototype memory devices at the 4400MT/sec speed.”

“Cadence has taken a huge leap forward in enabling servers, storage and enterprise equipment with next-generation high-speed memory. Systems that use DDR5 will be able to achieve higher bandwidth than DDR4 while also using less power per bit transferred, enabling these systems to do more computing on larger data sets than what’s possible with DDR4,” said Babu Mandava, senior vice president and general manager, IP Group at Cadence. “Cadence next-generation DDR IP is ready for implementation now, and we look forward to enabling DDR5 SoC designs.”

Cadence is ready to engage with customers immediately to start SoC designs integrating DDR5 memory interfaces.


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Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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