The tiny cubes, which are currently in production, will consume 70% less energy than conventional DDR3 computer memory modules, and will be revolutionary in the race to produce the fastest memory chip. The new memory solutions could help to speed up calculations in supercomputers across the globe, boosting memory for huge databases and providing super-fast response times to web requests – all whilst having a smaller impact on the surrounding environment.
Justin Briere, of leading computer memory supplier Data Memory Systems, believes this is a step in the right direction. He says, “In many other industries across the world, efforts are being made to streamline and reduce energy emissions wherever possible. It is time computer memory manufacturers caught up, and the Hybrid Memory Cube Consortium are stepping up to the plate magnificently.”
He adds, “Their new module looks highly promising, and it provides a much-needed power efficiency upgrade to the current computer memory options available. Though they are still years away from hitting the market, when these modules do eventually arrive, they will be snapped up in their thousands by businesses that are attempting to comply with the multitude of new policies and regulations regarding emissions.”
Many experts are hoping that developments like this will start to filter down to the computer memory upgrades that are available for standard computers and laptops. Not many people using a laptop for personal reasons would be able to even make a dent in the memory options offered by the Hybrid Memory Cube modules, but that doesn’t stop consumers across the globe from wanting to reduce their emissions. Typical desktop computers currently consume between 65 – 250 watts, while laptop computers can consume up to 60 watts to run. Add this to the extra monitors, printers, speakers and other gadgets that people use and the wattage to run a simple desktop computer or laptop is sky-high, resulting in large bills and plenty of emissions.
If the Hybrid Memory Cube is the first step on the way to producing greener, more eco-friendly computers, the market will surely be revolutionized forever as suppliers battle it out not to become the cheapest or the fastest, but to become the most efficient.