run at 133MHz but they were internally widened to deliver a single 2n-bits
wide (where n is a number) data transfer per clock cycle.
This is different from standard SDRAM which only deliver one n-bit
wide data transfers per clock cycle.
At the I/O pins however, the single 2n-bit wide data
transfer is split into two n-bit wide, half clock cycle
data transfers. The two pieces of data are then transferred to the
memory controller on both the rising and falling edges of the
signal. This differs from normal SDRAM which only carries data on
the rising edge of the signal.
In short, the internal DRAM core has been redesigned to allow
twice as much data to reach the I/O pins in a single clock cycle.
The data is then split up so that half of it is transmitted via
the rising edge of the signal while the other half is carried by
the falling edge of the signal.
It's probably because twice as much data is being transferred
per clock cycle which is why manufacturers and end-users alike
continue to label 133MHz DDR SDRAM as 266MHz DDR SDRAM. It's like
saying that AGP2X actually runs at 133MHz, which it does not.
Neither the memory chips nor the interface run at 266MHz. They are
just twice as fast because they do twice as much work in a single
clock cycle. But irrespective of what they call it, DDR SDRAM is
definitely twice as fast as normal SDRAM.
BTW, in order NOT to confuse everyone, I will continue to use
the misnomer of 266MHz to describe the speed of this DDR SDRAM
DIMM. Now, let's take a look at this memory chip's specifications :-
| Chip Capacity |
128Mb
(16MB) |
| Configuration |
4M x 8 x 4
banks |
| SDRAM Speed Grade |
7.5ns |
| Actual Memory Clock |
133MHz |
| Data Transfers Per Clock |
2 |
| Transfer Rate |
2.1GB/s |
| Latency |
2.5-3-3 |
| Allowable Clockspeeds @ CL2 |
75 - 100MHz |
| Allowable Clockspeeds @ CL2.5 |
75 - 133MHz |
| Average refresh rate |
15.6μs |
| I/O Voltage |
2.3 - 2.7V |
| Operating Temperature |
0 to 70oC |
| Power Dissipation |
1W |
Enough with the details. Now, let's see how well this DDR SDRAM
DIMM works!
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