Mile High, Maybe Rambus is better for the niche Sony goes after. But the key to the success of Rambus is getting loaded into personal computers, not into game boxes, and that is what is not going to happen. Only PC usage allows DRAM makers to ramp up enough output to make this thing profitable some day, maybe.
Most tests claim that Rambus is slightly faster than DDR. I don't doubt that. However, for mass market computer usage, that minimal speed enhancement is not worth the extra cost. For games, where speed and golly gee graphics are what turn on the slow class of kiddies, it very well may be. It also may be more important for a handful of engineers in highly specialized fields. But for the mass of computer users, business as well as personal, it just doesn't do much.
Sony can opt for slightly faster overpriced memory because their Play Stations still have a huge profit margin, and, if it is really better, the pre-teens may con their folks into buying it. The computer cos. do not have that luxury. Nor do the DRAM cos. have the luxury of spending huge sums of money to gear up for a limited quantity product on which they have to pay royalties. And Samsung alone will be able to meet all of Sony's demand with about two weeks production.
BTW, have you heard any announcements that Sony will use Rambus in their personal computer lines? |
