Xbox 360: Embedded DRAM Spec Confirmed
By: César A. Berardini - "Cesar"
Apr. 26th, 2005 6:01 am
Xbox 360
Today, NEC Electronics has confirmed that Microsoft will incorporate leading-edge embedded DRAM (eDRAM) technology from NEC Electronics in the Xbox 360. The high-performance eDRAM macros designed by NEC Electronics are a key piece of the graphics subsystem and will enable the console to provide users with a stunning high-definition graphics experience.
In a world exclusive, TeamXbox was the first publication to reveal the existence of the embedded video RAM back in February, 2004. Last week, we also revealed the ATI patent for a method and apparatus for supporting anti-aliasing oversampling in a video graphics system that utilizes a custom memory for storage of the frame buffer. In layman terms, that is embedded video RAM for the GPU to use it as a frame buffer.
The eDRAM graphics chip is manufactured in NEC Electronics' 300-millimeter (mm) wafer fabrication facility, which runs the company's most advanced processes.
"The next-generation Xbox platform will provide gamers with a highly advanced graphics experience," said Todd Holmdahl, corporate vice president, Xbox Product Group. "NEC Electronics' cutting-edge embedded DRAM technology plays a vital role in enabling our graphics engine's performance, while its manufacturing process provides a reliable resource that can deliver the volumes required to support what will be an extremely popular gaming platform."
"Microsoft's next-generation Xbox platform promises to be a revolutionary gaming platform and must-have consumer device," said Hirokazu Hashimoto, executive vice president, NEC Electronics Corporation. "NEC Electronics is pleased to be an integral part of this device and looks forward to working with Microsoft to make the next-generation Xbox platform a top seller."
Microsoft wants to eliminate current graphics architectures' bottlenecks and this embedded DRAM solution is the key to enable advanced visuals at high resolutions.
The name "embedded DRAM" is used because the memory is embedded directly onto a chip. The advantage of embedded RAM is that it offers a speed and bandwidth far superior to conventional out-of-the-chip memory. Think of it as comparing system memory (your computer RAM) with a microprocessor's cache memory.
Of course, this memory will be of a limited size because it is a lot more expensive than regular external memory.
The use of the embedded DRAM can be better understood when viewing the following image from the ATI patent:
