DRAM density set for huge jump in tablets

The average amount of DRAM memory found in tablets is expected to increase by 147 per cent this year, according to research from IHS iSuppli.

The market watcher predicted that DRAM density will rise to 676MB on average with the use of more data-intensive applications and functions.

"With tablets handling more data-intensive apps such as video, the average DRAM content in these platforms during 2011 will be about two and a half times more than last year's 274MB," said Mike Howard, principal analyst for DRAM and memory at IHS iSuppli.

"The rapid expansion will continue next year, when average DRAM in tablets reaches approximately 1.3GB. In 2015, tablets will have DRAM content similar to that of today's laptops, reaching 3.7GB."

However, some hardware firms are holding back growth, and Howard singled out the iPad 2 for disappointing customers with a smaller amount of DRAM (512MB) than was possible and expected.

Despite Apple's reluctance to use 1GB of DRAM tablet memory, density will increase annually at a rate of around 68 per cent between 2011 and 2015, said the analyst.

This is likely to be helped by the introduction of the Motorola Xoom, HP's TouchPad and the BlackBerry PlayBook, all of which will launch with 1GB of DRAM.

Tablets are not the only devices to drive up DRAM use, and smartphones are also likely to have an impact. IHS said that growth here will mirror that of the tablet market and is likely to increase by around a third.

Taken together, the growth will help to push up the mobile DRAM market to a higher level than its PC equivalent, despite their much lower individual consumption.