Here's the story on WRAM according to the Matrox Web page at http://www.matrox.com/imgweb/wram.htm
The next major shift in the industry will be heralded by the availability of newer, faster video memory types. All of these new memory types have a maximum theoretical bandwidth over 50 per cent higher than that of the currently available Video RAM (VRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM). These new single-ported memory types include: SGRAM, SDRAM, RAMBUS and EDO DRAM. The only new dual-ported memory is WRAM by Samsung.
Windows RAM (WRAM) is a revolutionary dual-ported memory, up to 50 per cent faster than the fastest types of VRAM. It can be clocked at 50MHz, giving a frame buffer bandwidth of 960Mb/sec. Its two ports allow input of graphic drawing data and output of screen refresh data to be processed simultaneously, doubling its data bandwidth.
Single-ported memories such as DRAM, SDRAM and RAMBUS experience a linear drop in performance as resolution, refresh rate and pixel depth are increased. Dual-ported WRAM maintains ultra-high performance in every mode. The relative performance gap of WRAM compared to single-ported memories increases with higher resolution. WRAM is an inexpensive technology (20 per cent lower cost per bit than VRAM), and only two chips are needed to create a 2Mb frame buffer, as opposed to 4 or 8Mb in the case of VRAM and DRAM. In addition, by integrating all technologies into a single chip (graphics, video and 3-D), the MGA-2064W reduces the amount of hardware required. This integration also significantly lowers parts costs.
- Ian Yates