Low-Power Advanced Memory Buffer

The IDT AMB+ meets the increasing memory storage requirements of servers and workstations that must achieve higher performance to support the demands of e-commerce, web-hosting, enterprise and other mission-critical applications. The challenge for these computing platforms is to continue to scale memory performance and capacity, while reducing power consumption to fit within the tightening constraints of ever-growing data centres. The AMB+ located on each FB-DIMM collects and distributes the data from or to a DIMM, buffers the data internally on the chip, and receives or forwards it to the next DIMM or memory controller

Designed from the start in anticipation of the power concern surrounding data centers, the AMB+ reduces memory subsystem power consumption by up to forty percent, enabling increased compute capacity within existing infrastructure, while reducing operating expenditure. In addition to savings derived directly from low power consumption, the collateral reduction of thermal levels significantly reduces system cooling requirements, allowing deployment of low-noise cooling mechanisms in servers, which has not been practical until now.

The IDT AMB+ is a drop-in, ready-to-use solution that immediately provides twenty-five percent savings over previous solutions, even while operating with DDR2-800 DRAMs. Additional power savings can be achieved by special provisioning incorporated in the device, such as an optional 1.5V core power supply, instead of traditional 1.8V. Consequently, a full-module heat-spreader may no longer be necessary, significantly reducing bill of material costs and increasing packing density.