Samsung today became the first memory maker to start shipping DDR3 modules with up to a whopping 16GB capacity. Targeted at servers, the new modules are based on 2-gigabit DDR3 chips built using 50nm technology and will be shipping in 18 different configurations, including a 16GB registered inline memory module (RIMM) and an 8GB registered dual inline memory module (RDIMM).
The company also claims they are the first to offer 16GB modules that can operate at 1.35V, providing around 20 percent savings in power consumption over 1.5V DDR3 solutions. They are rated for operation at 1066Mbps (or 1066MHz) and allow two-socket servers to boast up to 192GB of total memory - using six 16GB DIMMs per CPU on Nehalem-based Xeon servers with triple-channel memory controllers.
That certainly sounds impressive, though these will eventually be outclassed by the 4-gigabit chips announced back in January, which could yield more energy efficient memory modules with up to 32GB capacity.