To: Charles R who wrote (76529 ) 10/22/1999 4:13:00 PM From: Goutam Read Replies (2) | Respond to
Chuck,Carmel chipset may reveal future of Intel's Rambus memory program ebnews.com ____________________evidence of the chip maker's long-awaited high-speed memory program could finally be made clear. Carmel, which features dual memory channels with two RIMM sockets, was initially targeted at the very-high-end workstation and server markets. A.A. LaFountain III, an analyst with Needham & Co. Inc., New York, said the device was always aimed at a niche market, and was never intended to become the introductory Direct RDRAM standard-bearer. Reliance is hoping that server manufacturers spurn the more costly Direct RDRAMs in favor of PC133 SDRAMs, said David Pulling, Reliance's vice president of marketing, San Jose, adding that Intel's Direct RDRAM plan "backfired on them." Right now, however, the Intel 840 is being scrutinized for any hint of Direct Rambus' fate. Memory-channel data errors were originally blamed for delaying the Camino's launch, and today's Carmel introduction could be the first indication of whether Intel has solved the problem. But some industry sources said even Carmel's introduction may not shed much light on the memory-channel data-loss mystery, since Carmel may also support SDRAM. Sherry Garber, an analyst with Semico Research Corp., Phoenix, said Intel can unveil Carmel with SDRAM by adding an Intel-designed Memory Translator Hub (MTH) ASIC on the motherboard. Needham's LaFountain said very-high-end workstation OEMs might pay an extra price premium for SDRAM-based Carmel chipsets. Intel previously has said it will unveil a chipset that will support PC133 in the first half of 2000. Some major PC133 DRAM makers last week claimed that Intel has been accelerating its planned PC133 chipset launch, perhaps as early as January.
