32-bit DDR4 SODIMM supports industrial embedded systems

Apacer’s 32-bit DDR4 SODIMM achieves an balance between performance, power consumption and cost. Compared with existing onboard memory, it offers significant advantages of flexibility in capacity and space arrangement, making Apacer poised to upturn the market of ARM processor memory and ride this rapidly growing IoT wave.

New alternative for energy-saving memory

Traditionally, memory used for 32-bit ARM/RISC embedded systems is usually designed as built-in memory, which makes it difficult to meet the demands for smart IoT devices requiring high flexibility in distributing memory capacity and space. Cindy Huang, Director of Apacer Vertical Market Application Business Division, pointed out that the IoT and automotive electronics are expected to become key applications in the ARM market.

Considering the current market gap in ARM embedded memory systems and high demands for performance and bandwidth in the industrial control market, Apacer has stepped in with the world’s first 32-bit DDR4 SODIMM industrial memory, creating an upgradable 32-bit memory solution, whereby the shortcomings of limited memory capacity and performance for built-in memory can be solved. This technology will be implemented in intelligent applications in automotive electronics, automation systems, server and networking applications, NAS, and edge devices such as gateways.

Increased demands for intelligent applications lead to ARM IoT development

According to a report on future market expectations announced by ARM in 2018, the ARM processor held about 39% market share with a total value of $130bn in 2017. It is aimed to hit the target of up to $200bn by 2026 through continually focusing on the applications of the five main markets: mobile computing, server and networking, automotive electronics, IoT applications, and consumer electronics.

Compared with Intel x86, the ARM processor with RISC architecture has been widely used in embedded industrial systems developed for specific application markets due to its energy-saving, cost-efficient and lightweight features. With the diversifying development of the IoT field, the rich ARM architecture network has propelled the intelligent development of IoT devices and after extensive endeavours in deployment, great results have been seen in recent years.

Apacer’s 32-bit DDR4 SODIMM designed for ARM architecture systems can be used in processors made by large companies such as NXP, Freescale, Marvell, Cavium, and Texas Instruments and is also compatible with the latest RISC-V 32-bit processor. It can operate with just 1.2V, which is 20% less than a comparable DDR3 would require.

Apacer’s 32-bit DDR4 SODIMM comes with three specifications: DDR4 2133/2400/2666 with a choice of 2GB, 4G and 8GB capacity and supporting industrial-grade wide-temperature ICs from original manufacturers.