Graphics Double Data Rate (GDDR) IP Core
GDDR IP stands for Graphics Double Data Rate and is a type of interface that is specifically designed for graphics processing units or GPUs and are inserted in the PCI slots or ports. When it was first introduced in 1998 by Samsung Electronics in the market as a 16MB memory chip, it used to be referred to simply as Double Data Rate Synchronous Graphics Random Access Memory, or DDR SGRAM.
GDDR Generations
GDDR comprises of multiple generations of products, each one with a different set of features that sets it apart. These include GDDR, GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5, and GDDR6, the last one being the latest one. The use of these RAMs is mostly spread across the world of gaming and associated computation, being frequently used in consoles and high quality and high performance graphics cards.
- GDDR3 is similar to DDR in many ways, except for the fact that the performance of the module has improved with decreased heat output and lower power consumption rates.
- GDDR4 aimed to decrease the data transmission delay by introducing data bus inversion and multipreamble.
- Based on DDR3, GDDR5 comprised of double data lines and used 8 bit wide prefetch buffers.
- GDDR6 is a successor to the fifth generation and offers a higher per pin bandwidth, upto 16 bit per second, and operates at lower voltages- as low as 1.35 V. As such, it has better performance and lower power consumption rates than GDDR5.
What Separates DDR and GDDR?
The only similarity between a DDR and GDDR is the fact that both employ the use of double data rate. So, you may be wondering: what was the need to evolve from DDR SGRAM memory to GDDR? What is the difference between the two kinds of memories? Let’s explore:
- GDDR is more specifically designed to handle the workload of a GPU or a graphics processing unit, whereas the DDR caters mostly to CPUs or central processing units.
- GDDR has a wider memory bus which gives it a much higher bandwidth to work with as opposed to DDR.
- DDR tends to have lower latency as it has been designed to work with the likes of internet browser and computer applications, programs that send data packets in small bits. It receives 9 bits in a clock cycle. GDDR, however, is capable of sending as well as receiving larger bulks of data at a time making it more apt to handle heavier workloads of GPUs. It receives 16 bits in a cycle.
- Unlike DDR, GDDR can also request and receive data on a single clock cycle.
- Because of their higher performance rate, GDDRs are, understandably, the more expensive memory as compared to DDR, but it is well worth the price if you are looking for high quality graphics on your screen.
- Furthermore, GDDR is also optimised for decreased heat output and consumes less power to produce better results.
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