Intel reportedly validating Its Own DDR-Enabled Chipset
Oct. 06, 2000 (Electronic Buyers News - CMP via COMTEX) -- In a move almost
certain to raise a few eyebrows at Rambus Inc., Intel Corp. is validating its
desktop-PC double-data-rate (DDR) chipset, the Almador, scheduled to be unveiled
next year, according to memory companies currently supplying Intel.
The Santa Clara, Calif., microprocessor Goliath is reportedly perfecting its
desktop-DDR capability to support either an upgraded Pentium III or the
projected mainstream desktop Pentium 4, code-named Northwood. Intel is keeping
its options open for debuting its desktop-DDR chipset, depending on market
conditions and how much competitive heat is felt from archrival Advanced Micro
Devices Inc.'s DDR-enabled Athlon processors coming on the market later this
fall.
But in any case, the timing options are far in advance of 2003, the timetable
permitted under Intel's licensing agreement with Mountain View, Calif.-based
Rambus to introduce its own desktop-DDR chipset. Analysts and chip-industry
executives say they have little idea how Intel might try to finesse its Rambus
pact restrictions to unveil a DDR chipset as early as next year.
Virtually all major DRAM producers and several module makers say they are
shipping unbuffered DIMMs to Intel in large enough quantities to validate a DDR
chipset. Memory-vendor executives who reported this development declined to be
identified.
Intel's purchase of unbuffered DDR desktop DIMMs is the tipoff that its new
chipset is targeting mainstream PCs. A DDR chipset for servers, which the
company has openly said it is developing, would use buffered DIMMs.
An Intel spokeswoman declined to comment, saying that the company doesn't
discuss unannounced products.
Intel reportedly is using its Almador chipset to test and validate core-logic
interfaces for DDR memory. Almador is slated to be unveiled possibly as early as
the first quarter of 2001 to support the upgraded 1.3-GHz Pentium III,
code-named Tualatin.
Intel is developing Almador to support both single-data-rate (SDR) and DDR
SDRAM, said Bert McComas, an analyst at InQuest Research Inc., Gilbert, Ariz.
However, McComas added he believes Almador will initially be introduced in only
an SDR version, with the DDR functions deactivated.
"They're using Almador right now to test and verify DDR interfaces and
core-logic controller timing functions," he said. "Intel then would have the DDR
feature available in Almador should the company at some future time want to
activate this function."
McComas also believes a DDR Almador will appear if the Northwood Pentium 4
desktop processor is delayed beyond its planned third-quarter 2001 launch and
Intel needs to fill a DDR competition gap.
"If Northwood is introduced on schedule, only two quarters after Almador, then
Intel won't want a DDR Pentium III version so close in performance, and the DDR
functions of Almador won't be activated."
A few Taiwan motherboard makers, however, have publicly announced they will use
Almador DDR chipsets supporting the Pentium III in the first quarter of 2001.
Iwill Corp. has distributed its road map showing boards in the first quarter
with a DDR Almador.
But Bob Merritt, a Semico Research Corp. analyst based in Redwood City, Calif.,
thinks the Taiwanese are jumping the gun. While Almador will have DDR
capability, Merritt believes the first chipsets to hit the market will support
only single-data-rate SDRAM.
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