Easyi3C is a leading supplier of embedded system tools that simplify the development and debugging of various communication protocols. The company offers a range of products designed to help engineers and developers use I3C/I2C , USB and MIPI, JEDEC, MCTP and other protocols more efficiently.
Testing DDR5 RCD based on Tower I3C Host Adapter (1)
The Registered Clock Driver (RCD) is a key component used in DDR5 server memory modules (RDIMM and LRDIMM). Its main function is to act as a repeater and buffer between the CPU's memory controller and the DRAM chips on the memory module, primarily for command/address signals and clock signals.
Main functions and advantages of DDR5 RCD
Signal Integrity: RCD helps maintain signal integrity on DIMMs, which is crucial with the increase in DDR5 speeds (currently up to 9600 MT/s). This ensures stable communication even in configurations with many memory modules.
Reduced CPU load: By buffering commands and addresses, RCD reduces the electrical load and stress on the CPU's integrated memory controller.
Performance and stability: Compared to traditional unbuffered (UDIMM) memory used in most consumer desktops, RCD enables server systems to achieve higher memory frequencies, greater bandwidth, and higher capacity.
Power efficiency: The DDR5 RCD operates at a low voltage of 1.1V and improves the overall system power efficiency of the data center by helping to manage the power of the module itself through the power management IC (PMIC) on the module.
Decoupling: They decouple memory data and power from the CPU and motherboard, thereby enabling better performance under a wider range of operating conditions and greater flexibility in hardware combinations.
RCD and non-RCD DDR5 memory
For end users, the main difference lies in the application:
RDIMMs (Registered DIMMs): These modules contain RCDs and are designed for servers and workstations where stability, high capacity, and maximum bandwidth under heavy load are critical. They are typically incompatible with standard consumer motherboards.
UDIMMs (Unbuffered DIMMs): These are standard consumer desktop modules (such as the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB) that do not contain an RCD. They plug directly into the CPU memory controller and prioritize low latency to meet the needs of consumer applications such as gaming.
Leading semiconductor companies such as Rambus, Renesas, and Montage Technology manufacture RCD chips that adhere to standards defined by JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council).
To meet the testing requirements of DDR5 RCDs, we provide a rich set of APIs to ensure the testing needs of DDR5 RCDs are met. This allows for the easy construction of automated testing platforms to test different functions of the RCD.
As shown in the example diagram above, we can access and verify the RCD chip through the I3C/I2C protocol to perform different functional verification tests.
To complete our verification test, you can prepare by following these steps:
1. Log in to us Official website Download the Easyi3C Tower I3C Host Adapter DDR5 Device API.
2. Unzip the compressed file. Depending on your Python version, select the appropriate .whl package to install:
For example, if your computer has Python 3.8 installed, you can choose to install version ddr5-xxx-cp38-cp38-win-amd64.whl.
3. After installation, you can add the following code before your Python program, and then you can perform corresponding operations on the DDR5 chip.
Note: Our DDR5 modules are based on our common API. Before using it, you must first download and install the Easyi3C Tower I3C Host Adapter API from our Official website .
Based on our Tower I3C Host Adapter, DDR5-related chips can be easily tested, meeting complex testing needs, building automated testing environments, and shortening chip time to market. Because the RCD is a relatively complex chip, we will provide a more detailed introduction to its functions and offer sample test code in subsequent blog posts to help users get started.
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