Output of Direct Rambus DRAMs to Reach 270 Million Units in 2000
nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com
January 5, 1999 (TOKYO) -- Global production of 128Mb/144Mb Direct Rambus dynamic random access memory (D-RDRAM) chips will reach 270 million units in 2000, according to a survey conducted by Nikkei Market Access, a membership IT data service.
It will account for 16 percent of all DRAMs calculated on a bit basis.
D-RDAMs are a type of next-generation, high-speed microchip that have been attracting attention in recent years. Although demand was previously expected to ramp up in 1999, production levels are showing no sign of increasing because D-RDRAM makers delayed shipments for PCs.
The D-RDRAM demand for use in PCs, however, will increase on a full scale in 2000. Makers of home-use video game machines also will make a sharp push to increase D-RDRAM demand.
While the i820 chipset, which supports D-RDRAMs, was slated to debut in June 1999, Intel Corp. postponed its shipment to February 1999 and then to September 1999. Those delays spread concerns about the future development of the D-RDRAM market.
However, a new situation of the future expansion of D-RDRAM demand for PCs has been established because Intel started shipping the i820 chipset in November 1999.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will install D-RDRAMs on its PlayStation2 to be marketed in March 2000.
Also, the chips will be used for office-use machines and consumer electronics as early as 2001.
Expecting an increase in the demand mainly attributable to the widespread use in PCs and home-use video game machines, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. resumed production of D-RDRAMs in October 1999. NEC Corp. followed suit. Toshiba Corp., which is to make D-RDRAMs for the PlayStation2 along with Samsung, is increasing its D-RDRAM output gradually.
Infineon Technologies AG of Germany also has been optimistic about the chips, although it has not yet started mass-producing them.
The total output of D-RDRAMs from those four companies will account for 75 percent of the world's production in 2000.
Table : 128/144 Mb D-RDRAM Production
1999 1Q : 150,000 Units
1999 2Q : 630,000 Units
1999 3Q : 3,450,000 Units
1999 4Q : 10,800,000 Units (Estimate)
2000 1Q : 24,480,000 Units (Forecast)
2000 2Q : 53,400,000 Units (Forecast)
2000 3Q : 81,300,000 Units (Forecast)
2000 4Q :111,900,000 Units (Forecast) |
