Meta repurposes DDR4 memory with custom ASIC to bypass DDR5 shortages
By
Jon Martindale
Summary
Meta revealed at the International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA) that it is repurposing old DDR4 memory from retiring servers to fill supply chain gaps caused by DDR5 memory shortages. The company developed a custom ASIC chip to make DDR4 memory compatible with DDR5-only systems. Each new "MemServer" design uses an AMD CPU with a terabyte of combined memory, showcasing how even major tech companies with large budgets are finding creative workarounds to memory supply constraints.
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Key quotes
· 3 pulledMeta is re-using its old DDR4 memory to fill gaps in its supply chain, and has a custom ASIC chip to make it work in DDR5-only systems
Even companies with near-unlimited budgets are struggling to get all the memory they need, and they're finding creative workarounds
With an AMD CPU and a terabyte of combined memory, each of the new 'MemServer' designs...
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