Core Competencies

Products

CORE COMPETENCIES

Netlist’s core competency is the development of memory subsystems using proprietary printed circuit board (PCB) designs and state-of-the-art materials and packages. Our memory subsystems are used in high-performance computing applications, servers in all form factors, mobile computing, and workstations. Netlist memory subsystems outperform and are more cost effective than industry-standard design concepts.

Since the majority of DRAM is produced for PCs, DRAM component suppliers naturally specialize in mass manufacturing of products for the PC market. While current JEDEC guidelines are satisfactory for these types of applications, they are inadequate to meet OEMs’ requirements for higher memory capacity and performance. PC-tailored DRAM products are tested to meet min/max ranges of AC and DC parameters. However, the actual value of any parameter, though it falls within the acceptable range, can vary significantly between wafer lots and even from one device to another. As device density and clock speed increase, these minor variations can have a cumulative effect, which can result in failure of the module under worst-case conditions. System-level tests for specific platforms are rarely conducted by component suppliers, resulting in a product that is “PC-optimized” but is deficient in the unforgiving server and high-performance computing segments of the market.

Netlist’s technologies overcome the density and performance limitations of the memory component. The density limitation is solved by proprietary board designs that use embedded passives to free up board real estate, permitting the assembly of more memory components on the substrate. The performance of the memory module is enhanced by fine-tuning the board design to minimize signal reflections, noise, and clock skews.

While some packaging companies stack devices to double capacity, Netlist achieves the same result without stacking, resulting in superior signal integrity and thermal efficiency. Stacking components results in unequal cooling of devices, causing one device to run slower than the other in the stack. This often results in module failures in high-density applications.

To provide low-cost alternatives to OEMs, Netlist safely integrates commodity components with all their inherent deficiencies into high-end memory subsystems. Lagging edge or lower quality IC suppliers, which system OEMs have been hesitant to use as sources, become viable low-cost sources through Netlist's deficiency-compensating designs and 100% test filter. Netlist’s proprietary techniques include:

Netlist specializes in using commodity components with all their inherent deficiencies, and building a platform specific “plug-in-ready" module. The proprietary techniques used by Netlist to achieve this, focus on the following:

• Platform-specific PCB design that minimizes electrical noise, signal reflections and jitter, and clock skews, using multi-layered boards and optimum trace lengths. PCB dimensions, particularly height, are customized to the needs of the application.
• Selecting the appropriate passives to ensure module functionality
• Fine-tuning the phase locked loop to provide clock signals with the right shape and timing
• Designing the module for thermal efficiency by avoiding package stacking and using specially designed heat sinks
• System-level testing on specific platforms under worst-case conditions

As a result of these elaborate design and testing procedures, Netlist products have experienced the lowest parts-per-million defect ratio in the industry. Additionally, Netlist consults directly with OEM development engineers to ensure proper design and ventilation of all memory subsystems. Bridging the divide between the component supplier and the OEM is Netlist’s value-add.