AMD RAMP Technology For DDR5 Could Give Intel XMP 3.0 Run For Its Money

Intel may have taken the lead on the DDR5 memory frontier with the launch of its 12th generation Alder Lake CPUs, but that may change once AMD’s Socket AM5, 600 series motherboards, and Ryzen 7000 series CPUs launch later this year. This includes the launch of its Ryzen Accelerated Memory Profile, or RAMP for short.

RAMP is expected to succeed AMD’s A-XMP that currently serves as the default memory-overclocking software for all DDR4-based chipsets right now. RAMP was first listed on HWInfo’s v7.17 beta release notes, in which it says the technology had been added as preliminary support to the software. More to the point, it is highly likely that the software was created by AMD as a response and direct rival to Intel’s 3rd generation Extreme Memory Profile (XMP 3.0) memory overclocking profile when, once again, its Ryzen 7000 “Raphael” CPU series makes it to market.

While brief in its presentation and announcement, AMD’s Socket AM5 is set to be a new milestone for the chipmaker, in more ways than one. Its arrival will mark the second time the tech brand will drop the Pin Grid Array (PGA) CPU layout in favour of the Land Grid Array (LGA) format, the first time it adopted the format having started with its Ryzen Threadripper HEDT CPU lineup. Specifically, the new Socket AM5 will also be based on a new LGA1718 design, as well as be the first AMD chipset to support the DDR5 memory standard PCIe Gen5 standard.

At the time of writing, there is no further information about RAMP but if AMD were to maintain the status quo, the new memory technology could mean that currently existing XMP DDR5 memory will also be compatible with it. At the same time, AMD might just allow manufacturers to make RAM modules that cater to their technology, exclusively. Having said that, do remember that this is all just speculation and as such, do take this news with a grain of salt. 

If you die from the COVID-19 vaccine in Japan, the government will give your family over ¥44 mil

Japan began distributing the COVID-19 vaccine on Feb 17. While a little behind other developed countries, they seem to be trying to do it in as organized fashion as possible, staggering vaccinations to medical staff, the elderly, people with health conditions, and everyone else in that order.

It’s not without its challenges, however, and one of them remains the Japanese people’s general skittishness when it comes to vaccines. It might seem surprising in a country that’s all too ready to slip on a mask, but the fear of side effects and a general attitude of “It probably won’t happen to me” has kept flu shot rates lingering at a steady 50 percent year after year, despite the fact that in Japan the number of flu deaths in 2018 was about the same as COVID-19 deaths in 2020.

However, some who fear that the prevention might be worse than the disease may be swayed by a recent report that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will award a lump sum of 44,200,000 yen to the surviving family of any person who dies as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine and even cover funeral costs up to 209,000 yen.

It doesn’t even matter if there was negligence on the part of medical staff or the vaccine producer. In other words, there’s no strings attached.

This is actually a long standing policy of the ministry which covers any kind of vaccination, not just COVID-19. However, it recently made news when it was brought up by health minister Norihisa Tamura at a budget meeting.

Judging by the comments, a lot of people were unaware of this policy up until now.

“Now that’s some news! Let’s hurry up and die!”

“Wow! It also says you can get an annual five million yen if you’re severely disabled by the vaccine. I like those odds.”

“Maybe this will help more people get the shot.”

“Let the death game begin!”

“Seems simple, but isn’t it difficult to prove that it was in fact the vaccine that caused the death?”

That last comment is a valid concern, but it would seem that in practice the opposite is actually a bigger problem. According to a report by Diamond Online, the ambiguousness of vaccine side effects tends to work in favor of the victims in court. As a result, Japanese pharmaceutical companies have been reluctant to produce vaccines in recent years, because the financial risks outweighs the benefits.

This, combined with the fact that much of the public isn’t even aware of the policy, would suggest that it is probably more intended to coax Japanese companies to produce their own vaccines by reducing their liability. However, Diamond Online also points out that even after accepting the government’s money, victims still have the right to go after the companies in court.

This brings us right back to square one, as evidenced by the lack of any Japanese-made vaccines during this time of peak mass inoculation. Still, like one comment suggests, the new of this policy could at least help bring more people to the vaccination table by showing the the government believes in the safety of it enough to put their money on the line.

If it does, then it’ll ultimately be worth well over a few million yen.