Kingston and Rambus: This off Kingston's web-pages which I found very informative:
Memories Worldwide
Dataquest's Tactical Memories Newsletter Vol. II, No. 20
The following analysis, from Dataquest, gives an overview of Kingston's place in the next-generation world of Rambus:
SIMMs, DIMMs, and Now RIMMs
Eighteen companies, including DRAM, memory module, connector, clock chip, and test equipment manufacturers, announced support for Rambus Inc.'s Direct Rambus DRAM (RDRAM). In related announcements, Kingston Technology Company... [one] of the 18, made joint statements with Rambus that it will manufacture and distribute memory modules that support the Direct Rambus high-speed memory interface. The announcements coincide with Rambus' disclosure of the Direct Rambus main memory system packaging at the inaugural Intel Developer Forum in Burlingame, California. The Direct RDRAM modules for use in PC main memory will be known as Direct Rambus RIMM modules.
DQ Take
There are two important points in these announcements. One is that technology advances in DRAM may change the landscape of the third-party memory module industry. And the second is that Rambus is actively preparing the infrastructure needed to manage the transition to this new interface.
Third-party memory module manufacturers pride themselves on being service-oriented companies and not necessarily technology leaders. The current transition to SDRAM and then the following transition to next-generation memories like Rambus will challenge their business model. The design, manufacture, and test of SDRAM and Rambus modules will prove to be much more daunting than the board stuffing of the past, which may trigger an industry consolidation. Kingston,...well-positioned, is stating with their announcement that they are committed to succeeding in this changing market. Dataquest expects that many of the other top module companies will follow with similar announcements.
The infrastructure issue is critical for Rambus. Intel's memory road map designates 1999 as the starting point for the transition to Direct Rambus in PC main memory. For this to have any chance of occurring, not only will Direct RDRAM chips and an associated chipset have to be available, but the memory system infrastructure (testers, modules, connectors, and so on) will also have to be ready.
link: kingston.com
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kingston.com
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Kingston To Offer Direct Rambus System Memory Modules
Fountain Valley, CA (September 30, 1997)
Kingston Technology Company and Rambus Inc. today jointly announced that Kingston will manufacture and distribute memory modules that support the Direct Rambus? high-speed memory-interface technology. The agreement broadens Kingston's manufacturing capabilities and its role as a pioneer in a whole new era of high-bandwidth memory solutions.
Kingston's first products to use Direct Rambus DRAMs will be Direct Rambus RIMM? memory modules, which were disclosed today at the inaugural Intel Developer Forum in Burlingame, California. Kingston plans to ship production quantities coincident with chipset and Direct RDRAM? availability. PC system memory is expected to begin using Direct Rambus DRAMs in 1999.
"Kingston is addressing the need for Rambus high-bandwidth memory interfaces by broadening our manufacturing methods. We are adapting our design, testing methodologies and production processes to deliver superior quality Direct Rambus RIMM modules," commented David Sun, Kingston co-founder and vice president of engineering.
"Kingston's early commitment to Direct Rambus will be a key factor in realizing volume production of Direct Rambus RIMM modules," said Allen Roberts, vice president and general manager of Rambus Inc.'s Memory Technology Division. "It takes the leadership and support of companies like Kingston to realize the full benefits of Direct Rambus technology."
Adhering to its commitment for premium quality product, Kingston RIMM modules will be 100% compliant with the Direct Rambus RIMM Module Specification. For the production of Direct Rambus RIMM modules, Kingston will acquire Direct Rambus DRAMs directly from Rambus licensees. To further ensure quality and reliability, Rambus will periodically inspect manufacturing processes and ascertain consistent specification compliance. Additionally, Kingston's testing techniques and know-how will be shared with Rambus.
"Bandwidth of PC memory buses is becoming increasingly important as an enabler of applications. Current Rambus components have a peak transfer-rate bandwidth of 600 megabytes per second. This bandwidth helps pave the way to achieving Intel's goal of increasing PC memory buses to a transfer-rate bandwidth of 1.2 gigabytes per second by the year 1999," said Paul Popadak, senior product engineer, Kingston.
"Kingston RIMMs are key to serving the future successful development efforts of our three customer segments: PC systems manufacturers, DRAM manufacturers and PC distribution channel partners," added Gary MacDonald, vice president of sales and marketing, Kingston.
Earlier this year, Intel selected Direct Rambus as its DRAM interface architecture of the future, signaling that PC main memory is likely to have a Rambus interface. According to the February 1997 In- Stat DRAM Market Quarterly Forecast Update, the RDRAM share of the DRAM market, is expected to be about 30 percent by the year 2000 and close to 50 percent by 2001.
link: kingston.com
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Kingston and the Rambus Connection
Backgrounder
Rambus Inc. is a high-speed interface technology development and marketing company located in San Jose California. Intel and Rambus codeveloped a next generation PC main memory controller. Rambus' revolutionary chip to chip interface architecture improves PC main memory by increasing data transfer rates, thus boosting bandwidth. As faster microprocessors continue to support cutting-edge multimedia applications, memory must keep pace. Rambus technology solves the memory bottleneck by increasing data transfer rates with low cost manufacturing advantages. As a result, Rambus' solution has the most immediate promise with PC manufacturers and upgrade module solutions providers such as Kingston. Intel's memory roadmap indicates that Rambus will be widely adopted by PC system designers by 1999.
Remember, Rambus doesn't manufacture product, rather it licenses its technology and lives off of royalty revenues. Therefore, Rambus is challenged with building the industry infrastructure to support their innovations. At the end of September, Kingston was among 17 other companies that publicly stated their support for the Direct Rambus specification. Included in the announcement were DRAM manufacturers, connector and clock-chip makers as well as test equipment suppliers.
RDRAMs comply with the Direct Rambus specification for next generation 64 Mbit DRAM chips. DRAM manufacturers will produce these RDRAMs for companies like Kingston or PC manufacturers to build into RIMMTM modules. A RIMM module delivers a peak bandwidth of 1.6 Gbytes/second using conventional printed-circuit board technology and is similar to the currently available dual in-line memory module (DIMM). The RIMM module is expected to fit within the same physical, thermal and power profiles as 100-MHz SDRAMs.
A Kingston Perspective
Kingston is working closely with Rambus engineers to offer next-generation product solutions for the memory industry. Kingston's development efforts include implementations of Base, Concurrent and Direct Rambus specifications. In October, Kingston announced that we will manufacture and distribute memory modules supporting the Direct Rambus specification. Kingston's first Direct Rambus products will be Direct Rambus RIMM memory modules. Production quantities are expected to coincide with chipset and Direct RDRAM availability. Kingston will broaden its manufacturing methods and adapt its design, testing, and production to realize volume production to serve the needs of all customer segments: PC distribution channel partners, OEM relationships with PC manufacturers and DRAM business partners.
link: kingston.com
reh |
