/ˌdʒiː-diː-diː-ɑːr faɪv/
n. “A type of high-performance graphics memory used in GPUs for fast data access and rendering.”
GDDR5, short for Graphics Double Data Rate type 5, is a type of synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) specifically optimized for graphics processing units (GPUs). It provides high bandwidth and low latency for rendering complex graphics, making it widely used in gaming, professional graphics workstations, and GPU-accelerated computing.
Key characteristics of GDDR5 include:
- High Bandwidth: Capable of transferring large amounts of data per clock cycle, typically 4–8 Gbps per pin.
- Double Data Rate: Transfers data on both rising and falling edges of the clock signal.
- Optimized for GPUs: Designed to handle high throughput required for textures, frame buffers, and shaders.
- Low Latency: Ensures fast access to data for real-time graphics processing.
- Power Efficiency: Improved over previous generations like GDDR3 while maintaining high performance.
Conceptual example of GDDR5 usage:
// GPU rendering workflow
Load texture data into GDDR5 memory
GPU fetches textures and vertex data from GDDR5
Render 3D scene using shaders and frame buffers
Write output back to video memory for display
Conceptually, GDDR5 is like a super-fast scratchpad memory for a GPU, enabling it to access and process the massive amounts of data required for modern graphics and compute-intensive tasks efficiently.