COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Nov. 8, 2010 –FuturePlus Systems Corporation is introducing a new DDR3 Protocol Violation Detector, called the “DDR3 Detective.” The DDR3 Detective monitors DDR3 bus traffic continuously and as long as required, while analyzing all behavior in real-time for several hundred different potential violations of the DDR3 Protocol. The DDR3 Detective is compatible with industry logic analyzers and oscilloscopes. When teamed with a logic analyzer or an oscilloscope, the user can use the DDR3 Detective to trigger the logic analyzer or oscilloscope and see the actual error. This normally would take hours if not days trying to create a trigger or isolate the exact issue.
The current methodology to test for DDR3 protocol violations involves either complex, one at a time, logic analyzer triggers or post processing software that only looks at a tiny slice of the DDR3 memories operation. The DDR3 Detective analyzes real time command activity that may be breaking the rules of the DDR3 specification and threatening data integrity. The problems may only occur infrequently. These defects can lead to system problems that may not be obvious until later in the product cycle, when there is a wider population of devices and configurations. Catching these problems and identifying their root cause early is the key to fixing them before silicon and/or firmware becomes widely disseminated.
“The DDR3 Detective is a new, paradigm-changing product. We can now offer our customers not only a full speed trace of system activity, but intelligent and automated analysis of DDR3 protocol and performance. DDR3 developers will be able to cut time to market with this new product because they will be assured that their design meets the specification,” said Edward Aichinger, President of FuturePlus Systems. “The DDR3 Detective has complete standalone capability that can tell the user exactly which violation has occurred.”
The new DDR3 Detective is targeted at designers involved with DDR3 DIMM or SO-DIMM memory system failure analysis and bus functional-parametric validation in PC gaming, servers, super computing, high-definition television, laptops, desktops and mobile computing applications.
Interposer Design Provides Flexibility and Ease of Use.
The DDR3 Detective is bundled with several types of interposers to connect to the system under test. The bundles are compatible with either Agilent or Tektronix logic analyzers. Bundles are also available that can be used with any industry standard oscilloscope.
Bundles are available that connect to the Address, Command and Control signals of the DDR3 DIMM or SO-DIMM bus. Bundles are also available that connect to the Address, Command, Control and DQ signals of the DDR3 DIMM or SO-DIMM bus.
The product line also includes support for probing a second slot on a single channel. This gives added coverage for designs that have two DDR3 slots on a single DDR3 channel. This is another new innovation from FuturePlus Systems.
Further, the DDR3 Detective can connect to a logic analyzer or oscilloscope either individually or simultaneously.
The Address, Command and Control bundles include the basic DDR3 Detective plus the DIMM or SO-DIMM interposers. These bundles are priced at $40,000 (USA only).
The Address, Command, Control and DQ bundles include the basic DDR3 Detective plus the DIMM or SO-DIMM interposers. These bundles are priced at $60,000 (USA only).
Supported DIMMs and SO-DIMMs.
The DIMM interposers support a 240-pin, 933 MHz clock (1867 MT/s data rate), 64-bit, UDIMM, LRDIMM and RDIMM Synchronous Double Date Rate 3 DRAM Dual In-Line Memory Module (DDR3 SDRAM DIMM.)
The SO-DIMM interposers support a 204-pin, 800 MHz clock (1600 MT/s data rate), 64-bit, Un-buffered Synchronous Double Date Rate 3 DRAM Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module (DDR3 SDRAM SO-DIMM).
Software Interface Speeds Setup and Simplifies Analysis.
The DDR3 Detective includes a PC-based Probe Manager interface that allows the user to set up the DDR3 Detective, control which tests are being made, and report the violations and performance metrics. The DDR3 Detective is controlled via a USB interface between the PC and theDDR3 Detective.
Availability
All DDR3 Detective products are available 8-10 weeks ARO.
More Information on the DDR3 Detective may be found on the FuturePlus website: http://www.futureplus.com
About FuturePlus Systems
FuturePlus Systems Corporation is a privately held manufacturer of bus protocol analysis tools for the computer industry. The company is a member of the Agilent Solutions Partner and Tektronix Embedded Tools Partner programs. FuturePlus Systems products are also supported by authorized resellers in major countries around the world. More information about FuturePlus Systems Corporation may be found on the internet at www.futureplus.com.
