Micron's CZ120 CXL Memory: Unleashing in 2024!

Micron, a leading innovator in memory technology, proudly introduces the pioneering CXL 2.0 memory expansion module engineering samples, marking a significant advancement in server memory augmentation.

The latest iterations of AMD and Intel server processors present a remarkable 12 and 8-channel memory subsystem, offering an impressive bandwidth range of 460.8 – 370.2 GB/s. Despite these strides, the insatiable demand for memory resources remains.

Addressing this challenge head-on, Micron has meticulously crafted the CZ120 memory expansion module, built on the CXL 2.0 foundation. This module seamlessly incorporates either 128GB or 256GB of DRAM memory and establishes a seamless connection with the CPU through a PCIe 5.0×8 interface.

Testifying to its transformative potential, the CZ120 module is championing the adoption of CXL memory solutions among key industry players, as noted by Micron's spokespersons. The module is ingeniously powered by Microchip's SMC 2000 series intelligent memory controller, which supports dual 64-bit DDR4/DDR5 channels and seamlessly accommodates Micron's DRAM chips manufactured on the cutting-edge 1α (1-alpha) memory production node.

Each CZ120 module delivers an impressive bandwidth of up to 36 GB/s, showcasing its prowess—trailing slightly behind DDR5-4800 RDIMM (38.4 GB/s) but significantly outperforming NAND-based storage solutions.

Micron asserts that the integration of four 256 GB CZ120 modules into servers housing 12 64GB DDR5 counterparts can yield a remarkable 24% surge in memory bandwidth. Furthermore, the addition of an extra terabyte of memory could potentially double the daily volume of database queries processed by the server.

While the inclusion of CZ120 might entail the utilization of multiple PCIe lanes, potentially impacting the space that could be allocated to SSDs, the trade-off is unequivocally justifiable, particularly in instances where CZ120 offers enhanced cost-efficiency compared to traditional DRAM memory.

Currently, Micron has proudly announced the availability of these groundbreaking engineering samples. Stay tuned for further updates on the official product release, as Micron continues to lead the charge in shaping the future of server memory expansion and performance optimization.