Exploring Memory Packaging Options: From SIPPs to DIMMs and RIMMs

 

Memory Packaging

Tiny semiconductor chips are used to create memory, which is subsequently packed in a less fragile fashion so that it may be included into a computer system. More frequently, the chip packages are combined into bigger packaging. Therefore, there are many different physical packing options for computer memory.

According to Coherent Market Insights, The global memory packaging market size was valued at US$ 26.95 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.31% from 2023 to 2030.

The Major Types of Memory Packaging Include the Following

Single Inline Pin Package (SIPP)

This sort of memory module is no longer in use since it only has one row of real pins on one side. The printed circuit board that made up SIPP has many memory chips put on it. On one edge, it contained 30 protruding pins that were put into corresponding holes on the motherboard. Before SIMM technology took its place, this memory package was in use for some time.

Single Inline Memory Module (SIMM)

This kind of memory module, which contains RAM (Random Access Memory), was utilised in the early days of personal computers. Memory sticks with single inline memory modules are no longer used. On one side of the board, it had connections for power and data. The pins on the other side were superfluous. SIMMs are available in two sizes: 72-pin and 30-pin. Typically, the 30-pin SIMMs only had modest quantities of memory.

Sizes of 256 KB, 1 MB, 4 MB, 8 MB, and 16 MB were considered normal. Standard sizes of the 72-pin SIMM included 1 MB, 2 MB, 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, and 128 MB. SIMMS employed Fast Page Mode and Extended Data Out DRAM as its DRAM technology.

Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM)

A memory stick known as a DIMM has connectors for power and data on both sides of the circuit board. The DIMM is a memory module with a more recent architecture and a 64-bit memory route. SDRAM and DDR-DRAM are both available in DIMM formats with 168 and 184 pins, respectively. DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 RAM modules are supported by several types of DIMM slots.

Rambus Inline Memory Module (RIMM)

The Memory Packaging design for Rambus DRAM is called RIMM. It has various pin configurations but is quite comparable to a DIMM. The term "RIMM" is really a Rambus trademark and is used to describe a module that makes use of Rambus technology.