Micron Technology, one of the world’s largest producers of dynamic random access memory (DRAM), on Tuesday unveiled the industry’s first DDR3 memory chip with 2Gb density, which will eventually allow the company to introduce 8GB or 16GB memory modules for servers or 4GB modules for notebooks and desktops. Which is even more important, the new chip can run at 1333MHz, providing blazing performance.

“Just as we led the market last year with the introduction of our 1Gb DDR3 component, we are leading the market yet again with our new 2Gb component,” said Brian Shirley, vice president of Micron’s memory group.

Micron’s 2Gb DDR3 chip is produced using 78nm process technology and can operate at 1333MHz at 1.5V, the default voltage for DDR3 memory. Potentially, manufacturers of advanced memory modules may not only create 4GB, 8GB or 16GB modules, but also produce pre-overclocked 4GB sticks by increasing the frequency of Micron’s chips from default 1333MHz to a higher speed-bin.

By reducing supply voltage from 1.8V to 1.5V, DDR3 provides a 20% – 30% memory power savings when compared to DDR2 technology. Further memory power savings can also be realized by using fewer components on a module, approximately 40% to 50% percent depending on module form-factor, according to Micron.

“As power consumption continues to be a top concern in the technology industry, Micron remains the leader in the energy-efficient memory movement. It’s important that we show customers opportunities for them to reduce memory power consumption. In addition to the reduced core voltage of DDR3, our new 2Gb component allows customers to lower their overall system memory power consumption by using less chips on a module,” said Mr. Shirley.

Commercial availability for the 1Gb DDR3 product is planned for the first quarter of 2008.

“The graphic intensive features and functionalities designed into today’s new operating systems are requiring more and more memory to perform at optimal levels. IDC forecasts that, by the fourth quarter of 2008, the average desktop PC will contain nearly 2.1GBs of DRAM, the average mobile PC over 1.8GBs, and the average x86 server over 11.2GBs,” said Shane Rau, program director for computing, networking and storage semiconductors at IDC.