Fully Buffered DIMM
Main Memory for Next Generation Servers
The Fully Buffered Dual in-line Memory Module (FB-DIMM) provides advanced performance for
next-generation servers and offers unprecedented speed up to 4.8Gbps data rate.
Elpida Memory began sample shipment in December 2004 and continues to expand its FB-DIMM lineup in
step with the growth of the market.
Features of the Fully Buffered DIMM
In the new FB-DIMM, all signals — clock, address,
command and data — to and from the DRAM on the
module are buffered at the high-speed Advanced Memory
Buffer (AMB) chip located on the DIMM. This helps to
secure the DRAM timing margins during high-speed
operation, with a much shorter signal path between the
DRAM and the AMB.
ꢀ FB-DIMM
Point-to-Point architecture (Serial connection)
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
Memory
Controller
AMB
AMB
AMB
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
Up to
8 DIMMs
can be
loaded
The FB-DIMM also adopts a Point-to-Point connection on
the bus between the memory controller and the DIMM, as
well as between the DIMMs themselves. This allows
increased bus speed with a shorter connection path. It
also greatly improves the maximum number of DIMMs that
can be loaded on the bus — up to eight 2-rank DIMMs —
with less concern about signal degradation.
ꢀ Standard DIMM
Stub-bus architecture (Parallel connection)
Memory
Controller
By comparison, existing standard Registered DIMMs have a
stub-bus architecture along the memory bus between each
DIMM and the memory controller. As the memory
frequency increases, the controller must reduce the
number of DIMMs loaded on the memory bus to secure the
signal quality and the timing margin along the lengthy
signal path between the DRAM devices on the module and
the controller on the motherboard. This limitation has
presented a bottleneck in achieving improved performance
in server applications where both high-speed and
high-density are essential.
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
DRAM
Document No. E0632E30 (Ver.3.0)
Date Published August 2005 (K) Japan
Printed in Japan
© Elpida Memory, Inc. 2004-2005
http://www.elpida.com