After Micron announced new DDR5 memories in volumes that did not exist on the market until now – MSI hurries to be the first to adopt them for its modern motherboards, both within Intel and AMD processors
We’ve gotten used to getting our storage and memory volumes in whole powers of 2, so the jump between each tier is quite significant and usually also requires a significant investment of additional money. Then the Micron company arrived, and revealed to us that it is also possible a little differently when it announces DDR5 memory modules for desktop computers in a non-binary capacity of 24GB and 48GB – with the first offering an important stopover in the transition between popular volumes of 32GB and 64GB that are already available today, while the second allows Jump the volume supported in mainstream systems from 128GB up to 192GB as a blessing in favor of various applications that devour RAM (even more than your Chrome).
Micron is not the only one to present DDR5 memories in “exotic” volumes, as SK Hynix also did so last year with modules of 24GB, 48GB and even 96GB – but these were RDIMM (Registered Dual Inline Memory Module) modules that are adapted for the server world, While Micron’s modules are in UDIMM configuration which is (also) suitable for the home market.
Micron’s memories are compatible with both Intel’s XMP 3.0 technology and AMD’s EXPO technology – which will allow any user to easily exploit the hardware’s potential. However, given that those first modules are offered with verified speeds of 5,600MT/s and extremely relaxed CL46 timings, there probably isn’t too much performance to be extracted here beyond the baseline set for Ryzen 7000 and Raptor Lake CPUs in the first place. Beyond the standard DIMM configuration for desktop computers, Micron will offer 24GB and 48GB modules in a compact SO-DIMM configuration for miniaturized laptops or desktops.
With or without glorious performance, there is memory – and now there is support, with MSI officially announcing that all PRO, MEG, MAG and MPG series motherboards based on Intel’s 600-series and 700-series chipsets officially support DDR5 memories. 24GB and 48GB, without the need for any dedicated software updates. The motherboards for Ryzen 7000 processors are not included in this announcement, but with the information about the support of the modules from Micron also at the EXPO, this will probably come soon – perhaps as part of some software update that needs to be done for this.
At the current stage, with only one manufacturer officially using 24Gbit DDR5 chips to offer the volumes in question of 24GB and 48GB, it is quite difficult to imagine a situation in which these products will be offered with more competitive prices than those of modules with volumes of 16GB or 32GB that are available from all manufacturers in the field Over a year and a half – but this is an important start for us.
Let’s hope that more manufacturers of motherboards will announce support for the new volumes soon and more manufacturers of RAM chips will begin mass production of the increased chips – so that within a while computer systems with 48GB or 96GB of dual-channel memory can be no less realistic than systems with 32GB or 64GB of dual channel memory now.