The new HUDIMM memory, presented through the cooperation of Intel, TeamGroup and ASRock, brings a significant change in the architecture of DDR5 modules. However, early tests show that this savings comes at a serious compromise in performance.
Unlike standard DDR5 memory which uses two 32-bit sub-channels (64-bit in total), HUDIMM uses only one 32-bit channel. This practically halves the bandwidth and capacity per module, but on the other hand, the number of memory chips is reduced, which directly affects the lower cost of production.
HUDIMM memory brings a lower price with a big drop in speed
Testing conducted by HKEPC, with support from ASUS, clearly demonstrates the consequences of this approach. In the HUDIMM configuration simulation, read speeds dropped from around 59 GB/s to approximately 32 GB/s, while writing and copying data were also practically halved. Latency remained almost unchanged, which means that the main loss is purely in bandwidth.
In a dual-channel configuration, the situation is the same. Instead of over 100 GB/s, the system achieves around 58 GB/s, which corresponds to the performance of classic DDR5 memory in single-channel mode. In other words, two HUDIMM modules just reach the performance of one standard DDR5 module.
The main advantage of the HUDIMM approach is cost reduction. The 16GB module uses four memory chips instead of the usual eight, which means simpler manufacturing and lower cost. This is precisely why this technology targets the budget segment and business systems, where maximum performance is not a priority.
It is interesting that manufacturers also mention the possibility of combining HUDIMM and standard DDR5 modules in the so-called asymmetric dual-channel mode. In theory, this could bring a better balance between price and performance, but this claim has not yet been confirmed in independent tests.
HUDIMM is a compromise solution. It brings cheaper DDR5 memory and lower consumption, but at a price that is measured directly by half the performance. For more demanding users and gaming systems, classic DDR5 still remains a far better choice, writes Tomshardware.