DRAM Makers Quadruple Rambus Memory Production
Manufacturers of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) are set to boost their production levels of Direct Rambus DRAM (Direct RDRAM). Until recently, manufacturers have held back from this area of production because of the high costs associated with it. Expanded production scales, however, have made it possible to reduce manufacturing costs to a point where widespread market adoption seems possible.
The production volume seems likely to have quadrupled by September 2001 from the February 2001 level (see Fig). Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd, of Korea, was previously producing about five million chips (128-Mbit equivalent) a month, but this figure has been doubled to ten million since March 2001, and the company expects to double this amount again by as early as June 2001.
Toshiba Corp of Japan will also boost their February monthly production level of two million to eight million by September of this year. And Elpida Memory, Inc, also of Japan, will increase production from several hundred thousand to five million over the same period.
By the fourth quarter of 2001, the weight of Direct RDRAM in total production should top 30% at Samsung Electronics and Elpida, and exceed 60% at Toshiba.
Pentium 4 Drives Growth
One of the reasons that more DRAM manufacturers are pinning their hopes on Direct RDRAM is that there has been a sharp rise in demand for it, mainly for use as the main memories of personal computers (PC).
Intel Corp of the US has approached a number of Direct RDRAM memory vendors about boosting production, fearing undersupply for their new Pentium 4 microprocessor. This is because the Pentium 4 can only use Direct RDRAM as the main memory, at least until late 2001 or early 2002, when chipsets supporting synchronous DRAM and double data rate mode synchronous DRAM (DDR-DRAM) will be shipped.
According to a source at Samsung Electronics, Pentium 4 demand for Direct RDRAM will amount to 250 million chips (128-Mbit equivalent) throughout 2001. The current production level can only satisfy about half of this demand.
At the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), held in San Jose from February 26 to March 1, Intel was reluctant to show support for DDR memory, due to numerous technical issues surrounding compatibility. The company did, however, announce support for 4-bank Direct RDRAM, which has consequently acquired new importance as the leading contender for PC main memory.
Consumer Electronics
DRAM manufacturers are also interested in Direct RDRAM for other reasons; for example, it is a promising candidate for use in networking equipment and consumer electronics. The bit growth rate for the PC has fallen off sharply, and there is little likelihood of a recovery in the future.
The ratio of Direct RDRAM used for consumer electronics goods will only account for about a fifth of the total DRAM produced in 2001, but according to a spokesman for Samsung Electronics, "The market outside main memory applications is growing fast." A spokesman for Toshiba added that "more manufacturers are choosing Direct RDRAM as the memory for routers and other networking equipment slated to appear in 2002 or so."
by Masayuki Arai
(May 2001 Issue, Nikkei Electronics Asia) |
