Corsair announces what it claims is "extremely rare, exceptionally crafted" DDR4 RAM-- the Dominator Platinum Special Edition, high-performance memory available in a variety of configurations.

Designed for systems based on Intel X99 and 100 series motherboards, the modules are clocked at 3200MHz and can be overclocked to 3600MHz. Also included is a 10-lyaer PCB, DHX cooling and full XMP certification for one-touch overclocking. However what makes the modules a "Special Edition" is looks, with a choice of either "Chrome" polished or "Blackout" matte finishes.

Chrome modules are covered in highly polished mirror-finished aluminium with sandblasted textured upper edges, while Blackout modules are surface coated with matte black sandblasted aluminium with highly polished upper edges. Both module options also feature a pure white LED pipe running between the rungs of the top bar that lights up when the memory is in use.

Fujitsu gets the first license for the mass production of Nano-RAM (NRAM)-- a non-volatile memory technology promising a 1000x performance boost over DRAM together with NAND-style data storage capability.

Developed by Nantero, NRAM is based on carbon nanotube (CNT) technology, tiny carbon strings with 50x the strength of steel, half the density of aluminium and better thermal and electrical conductivity than any other material currently available, all while having 1/50000th the diameter of a human hair.

The companies say NRAM technology is tested to endure 100 billion program/erase cycles, and is able to retain data for over 1000 years at temperatures reaching 85 degrees Celsius, or over 10 yrs at 300 degrees Celsius. Latency reaces DDR4 levels at 50ns.

DRAM prices are set to stabilise, if not increase, following a period of price decline lasting from October 2014 to June 2016, according to TrendForce's DRAMeXchange.

The analyst says DRAM contract prices will see an exchange of around 4-8% on Q3 2016, an improvement after a period with average DDR3 4GB prices plunging by -62%. The reason for such an increase? Growing demand from smartphone and server makers, since the amount of DRAM in both product categories is on the up. As such, excess capacity is being consumed.

On the other hand PC DRAM demand remains in a slump, particularly since Windows 10 licensing schemes setting fees according to system specs discourage the increase of memory content per PC.

Customers wanting to wanting to give PCs a splash of colour can do so through RAM, as G.Skill launches Trident Z series DDR 4 memory modules in a choice 5 colour options.

Previously featuring a silver and black brushed aluminium heatspreader with a red top-bar highlight, Trident Z modules are come in colour schemes including a black brushed aluminium body paired with orange, yellow or white top-bar or a silver brushed aluminium body with white or black top-bar.

Samsung starts mass production of the first 10-nanometre (nm) class 8Gb DDR4 DRAM chips in the industry, the result of advanced memory design and manufacturing technology integration.

According to the company 10nm-class chips bring about improvements in both data rates and power efficiency over previous 20nm-class chips, with 30% better performance, support for data rates up to 3200Mbps and 10-20% less power consumption. In addition, Samsung says 10nm DRAM production can also bring about savings to customers, since the production process improves wafer productivity of 20nm Gb DDR4 DRAM by over 30%.

A Micron blog post brings an update on GDDR5X technology-- following the January publishing of the GDDR5X Graphics Memory Standard by JEDEC, the technology is set to enter mass production by Q3 2016.

First announced back in October 2015, GDDR5X is an intermediary GDDR5 update promising twice the memory bandwidth without need for changes to graphic card design or pricing. Micron says the GDDR5X program is already "in full swing," with components performing at data rates reaching 13Gb/s.

Corsair adds what it claims are the fastest ever 32, 64 and 128GB DDR4 kits to the Vengeance LPX DDR4 range, all with headline frequences reaching up to 3600MHz plus Intel XMP 2.0 compatibility.

The fastest kit in the series is the Vengeance LPX 32GB (4x8GB) with 3600MHz frequency, running at 1.35V with CL 18-19-19-39 timings. The bigger capacity 64GB (4x16GB) kit runs at 3333MHz at 1.35V with CL 116-18-18-36 timings, and boths are optimised for the Intel Z170 dual-channel platform.

The biggest Vengeance LPX kit is the 128GB (8x16GB) option, clocked at 3000MHz and running at 1.35V with 16-18-18-36 timing. Corsair says it is "designed to push Intel’s X99 quad-channel platform to the next level," and as such is ideal for high-end workstation builders.

Customers wanting high-performance memory might be interested in the G.SKILL Ripjaws-- a DDR4 3000MHz CL14 128GB memory kit consisting of 8X 16GB memory modules.

Designed for use with the Intel X99 platform, the Ripjaws is the fastest DDR4 128GB 1.35V memory kit according to the company. It offers 3000MHz "extreme speed" with CL14-14-14-34 low CAS latency, making it ideal for professional workstations used on content creation, 3D rendering or scientific applications.