[Hardware] TeamGroup now validating first consumer DDR5 memory modules

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What just happened? TeamGroup has stated today that they are the first DRAM company to enter the validation process of a consumer DDR5 memory module and are currently working with motherboard manufacturers to finalize the long-awaited chips. The DRAM modules are slated for a Q3 2021 release, but they must have CPU support, which won't be featured by AMD or Intel chips until Q4 or beyond. TeamGroup has announced today that it is the first DRAM producer to enter the validation process of a consumer-grade DDR5 memory module. The company stated they are working closely with the R&D divisions of motherboard manufacturers to perform validation tests on their chips and finalize consumer-facing clock speeds. These first sticks will contain 16GB chips running at 4800MHz at 1.1V per module. SK Hynix was the company to launch the first DDR5 DRAM modules back in early October, but these were for enterprise use. We will likely see other manufacturers come out with their consumer-facing products soon.DDR5 is expected to reduce power consumption and double bandwidth relative to DDR4, as well as some other significant improvements under the hood. Clock speeds should see a dramatic improvement as well, with SK Hynix stating in April that it was working on a DDR5-8400 module. But these won’t be released for some time, and the first few modules probably won’t peak over 6000 MHz. If you are planning a build in the coming months, though, do not hold out for DDR5. Support for the next-gen memory is quite far-off, rumored to release with Alder Lake in Q4 next year and with AMD’s Zen 4 in 2022.

 

 

Earlier this month, TeamGroup boasted that its first 16GB DDR5-4800 modules would be rolling out in 2021. The company indicated that it would be coordinating the release of these blazing faster modules with next-generation CPU platforms from leading PC processor manufacturers AMD and Intel. In the lead-up to an expected Q3 2021 debut, TeamGroup says that it is now in the process of validating its first run of DDR5 modules. As previously reported, these are 16GB modules rated at 4,800MHz with an operating voltage of 1.1V. There is also baked in Error Correcting Code (EEC) support, which is a big upgrade for consumer-level DRAM. At this time, the DDR5 modules are being tested in prototype motherboards from leading enthusiast companies including ASRock, ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI. And at this point the first consumer CPU platforms to adopt DDR5 memory will be Intel's 12th generation Alder Lake hybrid processors and [likely] AMD's Zen 4-based processors. "Through the collaboration of R&D teams, TeamGroup was able to accelerate the development of its DDR5 memory by adjusting the initial parameters," the company states. "The successful completion of the validation phase will confirm that the frequencies of standard DDR5 products surpass those of overclocked DDR4 products, and will represent another big step forward in the evolution of computer memory." One other intriguing side note is that TeamGroup says that users won't need to boot into BIOS in order to turn on DRAM overclocking (think Intel XMP). Instead, the DDR5 modules will automatically perform at their rated speeds without that extra step. TeamGroup isn't the only company that has its eye on DDR5 modules; as we reported in October, SK Hynix is developing modules with speeds ranging from 4,800MHz to 5,600MHz operating at 1.1V under JEDEC ratings. SK Hynix also says that it will introduce DDR5 modules up to 256GB in capacity using through-silicon-via (TSV) technology.