Zuck saves Meta bucks by reusing memory from old servers with a custom CXL ASIC
Summary
The Register reports Meta is reusing DDR4 RAM from old servers in new MemServers, connected via a custom CXL-based bridge (Vistara) to share memory across workloads. The approach yields up to 25% reduction in server count for disaggregated inference and reduces RAM scarcity, while addressing memory lifecycle issues; however, CXL brings potential latency and bandwidth concerns, and the solution relies on bespoke hardware and careful memory management. The piece frames memory reuse as a practical response to rising RAM costs rather than a universal replacement for fresh hardware.