I finally bought in yesterday. Here's another optimistic article about Intel/RMBS:
techweb.com
August 04, 1997, Issue: 748
Section: Sourcing
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Rambus is 'safe bet' in memory -- Alliance with Intel could ensure future dominance
By Kelly Spang
Mountain View, Calif. -- For VARs and PC OEMs that are the betting type, odds are Rambus Inc. will win out as the main system memory manufacturer by the end of the decade.
Competing standards in the world of dynamic RAM (DRAM) architecture are vying for position, as PC systems increasingly require bandwidth beyond what current technology can provide, in order to keep pace with processor speeds.
So far, a leading contender in this market space is Mountain View-based Rambus, a developer of high-speed, chip-to-chip interface technology.
In addition, Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM-a standard that could triple today's SDRAM technology capacity-and the SLDRAM (formerly SynchLink) standard both are eyeing opportunities as memory bandwidth accelerates.
The winner in the race is likely to be Rambus, which already provides interface technology today for the graphics market, some analysts said.
"There is no doubt that if you had to take a bet, the safe bet is Rambus," said Mark Kirstein, director of research for computer market services at In-Stat Inc., a research firm based in Scottsdale, Ariz. "You wouldn't just be betting against Rambus, you would also be betting against Intel [Corp.], which isn't a wise move."
Intel is working with Rambus to develop specifications to ensure the Rambus technology will be well-suited as the main memory in PCs starting in 1999.
Siemens Semiconductor Group is leading the way for the development of the first SLDRAM. The first product is to be completed by early 1998.
By the year 2001, In-Stat forecasts DRAM based on Rambus' technology will start to become the majority of DRAM shipped.
Rambus also has unveiled additional OEM support with Texas Instruments Inc., which took a broad license for Rambus' high-bandwidth memory-interface technology.
The technology is slated to be incorporated into TI's next-generation products, such as digital signal processors (DSPs) and DRAM.
The top 10 DRAM manufacturers now all have received a license from Rambus to develop Direct Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), which can be integrated as main PC memory.
The same DRAM OEMs also are listed as supporters of the SLDRAM technology, though according to Kirstein, the SLDRAM technology is -developmentally-one to two years behind Rambus.
Rambus technology also found its way as a standard part of PC configurations from Micron Electronics Inc. and Gateway 2000 Inc. when those PC manufacturers unveiled systems incorporating DVD subsystems as a standard feature.
Copyright (c) 1997 CMP Media Inc. |
