Performance

/ˌdʒiː ˌdiː ˌdiː ˈɑːr fɔːr/

n. — “GDDR4 is the in-between graphics memory lane that tried to go faster before the big leap to GDDR5 took over.”

/ˌdʒiː ˌdiː ˌdiː ˈɑːr θriː/

n. — “GDDR3 is the slightly older, still-speedy graphics memory lane that kept yesterday’s pixels flowing smoothly.”

/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:

/ˈʌl-trə diː-ɛm-eɪ/

n. “An advanced version of Direct Memory Access (DMA) for faster data transfer between storage devices and system memory.”

/diː-ɛm-eɪ/

n. “A method for transferring data between devices and memory without involving the CPU for each byte.”

DMA, short for Direct Memory Access, is a data transfer technique that allows peripheral devices, such as HDDs, SSDs, or network cards, to read from or write to system memory directly, bypassing the CPU for individual data moves. This reduces CPU overhead, allowing the processor to focus on other tasks while large blocks of data are transferred efficiently.

/piː-aɪ-oʊ/

n. “A method for transferring data between the CPU and a storage device using programmed instructions rather than direct memory access.”

/ˈeɪ-tiː-eɪ/

n. “A standard interface for connecting storage devices such as hard drives and optical drives to a computer.”

ATA, short for Advanced Technology Attachment, is a standard interface used for connecting storage devices like HDDs and optical drives to a computer’s motherboard. ATA defines the electrical, physical, and logical specifications for data transfer between the storage device and the CPU.

Over time, ATA has evolved into different versions:

/ˈpæ-tə/ or /ˈpɑː-tə/

n. “An older parallel interface standard for connecting storage devices to a computer’s motherboard.”

PATA, short for Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment, is a legacy interface used to connect storage devices such as HDDs and optical drives to a motherboard. It uses parallel signaling with a wide ribbon cable (typically 40 or 80 wires) to transfer data between the device and the system.

/ˈsɑːtə/ or /ˈsætə/

n. “A computer bus interface that connects storage devices like hard drives and SSDs to a motherboard.”

SATA, short for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, is a high-speed interface standard used to connect storage devices such as HDDs, SSDs, and optical drives to a computer’s motherboard. SATA replaced the older parallel ATA (PATA) standard, providing faster data transfer, thinner cables, and improved efficiency.

/ˌɛn-viː-ˈɛm-iː/

n. “The high-speed protocol that lets SSDs talk directly to the CPU.”

NVMe, short for Non-Volatile Memory Express, is a storage protocol designed to maximize the performance of modern SSD drives by connecting directly to the CPU over PCIe lanes. Unlike older protocols like SATA, NVMe eliminates legacy bottlenecks and leverages the low latency and parallelism of NAND flash memory to achieve extremely fast read/write speeds.

Key characteristics of NVMe include: