Doug S (foo.delete@this.bar.bar) on July 22, 2022 11:05 am wrote:
> Mark Roulo (nothanks.delete@this.xxx.com) on July 22, 2022 9:48 am wrote:
> > Ben T (ben.delete@this.noemail.com) on July 22, 2022 5:31 am wrote:
> > > > what you describe is not the first, second or third highest priority
> > > > things that would need to be solved, for this to be a 'thing'.
> > >
> > > What are the highest priority things needed for Apple to make a viable server?
> > >
> > > Three things I think are needed for a viable Apple server are:
> > >
> > > * inline ECC (Error Correction Code) for the LPDDR DRAM
> > > * ECC for the caches and other large RAM blocks
> > > * the same amount of verification that Intel and AMD do for their server chips
> >
> > Higher reliability makes sense.
> >
> > But, the M1 Ultra maxes out at 128 GB of DRAM.
> >
> > I don't know enough about the server market, but the servers my
> > employer ships often have much more DRAM (1 TB is common).
>
>
> It is possible to use denser LPDDR. They could manage 1 TB of LPDDR5 with the existing controllers.
> I expect we'll see some higher density LPDDR5/5X used when Apple releases the new Mac Pro, since
> 256 GB just isn't a reasonable max when the current x86 version allows for 1.5 TB.
>
> I don't see LPDDR as a reasonable alternative for a server. While replacing RAM isn't a concern
> (just permanently map out pages where repeated ECC errors occur) the capacity limit probably is.

I am pleased to hear that denser LPDDR is an option.

My guess is that 1 TB is probably sufficient for enough servers that this wouldn't be a deal breaker for a product. You don't need to build a product that appeals to EVERYONE.

I still don't think Apple wants to get into the server space so this is pretty hypothetical.