RDRAM differed from traditional memory in its use of a narrow, high-speed data channel called a “Rambus Channel.” While SDRAM typically used a 64-bit bus, RDRAM used a 16-bit or 32-bit channel, but it compensated with a much higher clock frequency. This design enabled RDRAM to achieve data rates that were several times faster than standard memory modules at the time.

One key feature of RDRAM was its use of a high-frequency clock and pipelining techniques, which allowed multiple data transactions to occur simultaneously. This high-speed approach made RDRAM an attractive option for applications requiring rapid memory access, including graphics-intensive tasks and servers.