Fierce graphics war continues and after magnificent graphics processors from ATI Technologies and NVIDIA entered the scene, it is time for memory chips to catch up with the same level of innovation and cutting-edge technology. Only recently we told you about the so-called GDDR2-M memory chips from Elpida (see this news-story) and already today Micron Technology delivered even more advanced GDDR3 memory chips developed specifically for graphics cards and related applications.

GDDR3 technology can provide an aggregate bandwidth of 6.40GB/s per device, achieved with a 1.60Gb/s per pin data rate. Generally speaking, GDDR3 is the fastest memory device available today. Fabricated using Micron’s 0.11 micron process technology, GDDR3 provides the highest performance in both per-pin bandwidth and aggregate bandwidth.

Micron’s Executive Director of Advanced Technology and Strategic Marketing for Micron’s Computing and Consumer Group said today that GDDR3 operates at 50% higher data rates while consuming approximately half the power of graphics DDR-II. The company believes the first applications to adopt GDDR3 will be high-end graphics, gaming markets and high-speed networking.

Both ATI Technologies and NVIDIA today reiterated their commitment to GDDR3 and intention to utilise it with future graphics products.

In October 2002 a number of sources expected GDDR3 to come in late 2003 (see this news-story), probably in the fourth quarter or in the very end of the year. If GDDR3 really becomes massively available by that time, it will probably be used on higher-end graphics cards, such as ATI R400/R420 and NVIDIA NV40.

GDDR3 evolves from DDR-II, but still has some pretty important differences. Firstly, GDDR3 makes use of a single-ended, unidirectional strobe that separates the reads and writes. DDR-II, by contrast, uses differential bi-directional strobes. Secondly, GDDR3 utilises a “pseudo-open drain” interface technique that is based on voltage rather than current. This was done so that graphics chips can be compatible with DDR, DDR-II and GDDR3. Like DDR-II, GDDR3 interface uses 1.8-Volt SSTL. Such memory is better suited to point-to-point links used on graphics cards and allows GPU developers to reach the new performance and feature heights with their products.