RDRAM
RDRAM, or Rambus Dynamic Random-Access Memory, is a high-speed type of RAM that was popular in the early 2000s for its high bandwidth and faster data transfer rates compared to other memory types at the time. Developed by Rambus Inc., it was used in applications like video game consoles and graphics cards, but was eventually replaced by the more affordable DDR SDRAM.
Key characteristics of RDRAM
Speed: RDRAM was known for its high clock speeds, reaching up to 800 MHz, and a data transfer rate of 1.6 billion bytes per second.
Technology: It uses a serial memory bus and a 16-bit data bus, which was a key factor in its high bandwidth.
Physical form: Computer RDRAM modules were easily identifiable by their metal covers, which acted as heat sinks. These modules were called RIMMs (Rambus Inline Memory Modules) and were not interchangeable with standard DIMMs (Dual Inline Memory Modules).
Competition: It competed with DDR SDRAM and was initially expected to become the standard for PC and graphics memory, especially after Intel licensed the technology.
Decline: RDRAM lost the "standards war" to DDR SDRAM due to being more expensive and later, less competitive on performance, leading to its support being phased out in new PCs by around 2003.
Successor: It was eventually superseded by Rambus's own XDR memory.
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