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To: Stuart Steele who wrote (35880)12/16/1999 11:32:00 AM
From: Don Green  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 93625
 

Workstations for high performance

12/16/1999
The New Straits Times
Computimes; 2*
Page 46
(Copyright 1999)


DELL Computer Corp has announced two new members to its workstation family which incorporate the latest chipset and memory technologies for a more improved performance.

The Dell Precision Workstation 220 and 420 incorporate Intel's new 820 and 840 chipsets respectively with new Rambus memory enhancements on both.

The 820 and 840 chipsets include a 133-megahertz (MHz) front side bus and 4X advanced graphics port (AGP) support which is said to bring improvements in overall system performance.

With a maximum data transfer rate of up to 1.6-gigabytes per second (GBps) the Rambus dynamic random access memory (RDRAM) in the Dell Precision Workstation 220 and 420 is claimed to be faster than the traditional 100MHz.

The Dell Precision Workstation 220 can be custom-configured with single or dual Intel Pentium III processors at speeds of up to 733MHz, and up to 72GB of hard disk storage and 512-megabytes (MB) of Rambus memory while the Dell Precision Workstation 420 offers up to 2GB of Rambus memory.

The workstation 420 also incorporates single or dual Intel PIII processors at either 733MHz or 600MHz. The Dell Precision Workstation 220 and 420 are available for order with a choice of graphics cards for 2-D, OpenGL 3D and multi-monitor graphics performance.

These new models are intended for professionals who demand performance in the computer-aided design, digital content creation, geographic information system, computer animation, software development and financial analysis markets.

The Workstation 220 price starts at RM8,265 while the Workstation 420 is RM11,214.







To: Stuart Steele who wrote (35880)12/16/1999 11:33:00 AM
From: Don Green  Respond to of 93625
 
Tanisys Ships Sigma 3 Model 800 Test System

12/16/1999
Dow Jones News Service
(Copyright (c) 1999, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)



( BW)(TX-TANISYS)(TNSU) Tanisys Announces First Customer Shipment of SIGMA 3 Model 800 Test System for Rambus RIMM Modules

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 1999--

Industry's Leading Memory Module Tester Delivers Support

for the Latest Memory Technology

Tanisys(R) Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:TNSU), a leading supplier of computer memory module test equipment under its DarkHorse(R) Systems brand, today announced the first delivery to customers of the DarkHorse SIGMA 3(tm) Model 800 Test System for Rambus (R) RIMM(tm) Modules.

"The delivery of this new test system responds to industry concerns regarding the availability of cost competitive production test equipment that will reduce the total manufacturing cost of RIMM Modules," said Chuck Comiso, Tanisys president and CEO.

"In addition, existing SIGMA 3 customers will be able to upgrade their current Model 200 systems to Model 800. This will add extended life and greater value to their present test system investment."

"DarkHorse's delivery of the new SIGMA 3 Model 800 provides an 800 MHz Rambus test platform just as industry leaders are preparing to ramp up RIMM Module production," said Sherry Garber of leading market research firm Semico Research. "It reinforces the fact that DarkHorse is capable of expanding the scope of its product capabilities to meet industry needs in a timely manner."

"The delivery of this test system to module manufacturers will continue to enable the ramp as PCs with Rambus RIMM Modules are delivered to the marketplace," said Laura Fleming, vice president, Alliances and Infrastructure Division, Rambus Inc.

"DarkHorse's test solution will significantly help Rambus module manufacturers by allowing them to reduce overall production costs and to offer more competitive pricing at the consumer level."

The SIGMA 3 Model 800 is one of the most affordable RIMM Module testers manufactured by a Rambus partner and is the only tester that is upgradable from an industry standard SDRAM tester to support 800MHz RIMM Modules. The system has timing margining capabilities, AC parametric testing and an easy-to-use Microsoft Windows interface to easily identify module configuration, perform tests and display results.

The SIGMA 3 is designed for module manufacturers, OEMs, memory suppliers, PC manufacturers, system integrators and others needing to test memory modules. The Model 800 is the latest step in DarkHorse's SIGMA 3 upgrade plan to support 800MHz Rambus memory and other future memory architectures, permitting customers to leverage their investment over time.

Tanisys Technology Inc. is a leading provider of customer-driven, quality computer products, as well as technical and logistical services to the electronics industry. Its outsourcing services include production order management and fulfillment. Tanisys products include memory modules and the market-leading DarkHorse memory testers (SIGMA 3, SIGMA 2, SYNC LC and SIGMA LC). For more information, visit Tanisys Technology's Web site at tanisys.com. This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace, competitive factors, new products and technological changes, product prices and raw material costs, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release. Rambus is a registered trademark of Rambus Inc. RIMM is a trademark of Rambus Inc. EDITOR'S NOTE: In the product names "SIGMA 3," "SIGMA 2," "SYNC LC" and "SIGMA LC," there is a bullet between "SIGMA" and "3," "SIGMA" and "2," "SYNC" and "LC" and "SIGMA" and "LC." The bullet was removed for transmission purposes only.

--30--bd/sa*




CONTACT: Tanisys Technology Inc., Austin
Investor Relations, 512/335-4440

InvestorRelations@tanisys.com




To: Stuart Steele who wrote (35880)12/16/1999 11:48:00 AM
From: Don Green  Respond to of 93625
 


Rambus Intel contract set to expire

Posted 16/12/99 1:29pm by Mike Magee

Sources have told The Register that the 10th of January 2000 is an extremely important day for the Intel-Rambus partnership.

On that date, Intel exclusivity with Rambus expires, allowing the chip giant to discuss other, alternative memory technologies.

The clause in the contract means that Intel may get very excited by things such as double data rate (DDR) synchronous memory, and at the same time announce its Solano-II chipset has gone out for sampling.

Very shortly after that, we are given to understand, the fully fledged PC-133 chipset will make its appearance, as previously revealed here. This chipset will avoid the infamous MTH temporary kludge, which hardware reviewers have found has a negative impact on performance.

And once those corks are out of their respective bottles, we may eventually see Chipzilla 2000, a big creature which has been slightly humbled by having to listen to the marketplace.

Meanwhile, to show the level of support that the industry is giving DDR memory, have a look at this Micron page ®

See also
815 comes alive with PC-133 support
Intel's Solano, Amador, only a bubble'n'squeak away
Intel likely to bring Solano chipset forward



To: Stuart Steele who wrote (35880)12/16/1999 4:33:00 PM
From: Don Green  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 93625
 
SAMSUNG: Samsung begins construction of new semiconductor complex

12/16/1999
M2 PRESSWIRE
Copyright 1999 M2 Communications, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


* The first line, Line 10, will produce 256Mb DRAMs, Rambus DRAMs and other next-generation devices.

* Production is scheduled to start in 2H 2000, ramping to 32,000 wafers starts per month by early 2001.

* Total construction cost is set at US$1.8 billion; processing facilities will be equipped for 0.15-micron design rule.

SEOUL, Korea -- Samsung Electronics is building a new semiconductor production complex on a 1-million-square-meter site in Hwasung-gun, Kyonggi Province. The new facility will bolster Samsung's position as the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer, and give the company stronger global competitiveness in the System LSI sector. Samsung already operates a 1.3-million- square-meter complex in Kiheung, Korea.

Initially, Line 10 will be dedicated for the production of 128Mb, 256Mb and Rambus DRAMs. Samsung Semiconductor Business President and CEO Y. W. Lee and other high-ranking company officials inaugurated the new complex at an official ceremony today. At the same time, the company outlined plans to maintain its top ranking in memory production while developing into a leader in all semiconductor-related areas.

A total of US$1.8 billion will be invested in Line 10 by the first quarter of 2001. The new line will be capable of processing 0.15-micron design rule, the highest precision in the industry today. Samsung expects Line 10 to be capable of 32,000 eight-inch wafer starts per month.

The first construction phase will be completed by the third quarter of 2000, when monthly wafer starts will total 16,000. Samsung will commence full-scale production of 256Mb DRAMs, Rambus devices and DDR DRAMs, further differentiating itself from the competition in the marketplace.

"Samsung's semiconductor operations will maintain a 6-month to one-year lead in the industry for new product development. We will complete development of 0.12-micron processing technology within one year and the 0.10-micron design rule by 2001. The increase in production capacity with the Line 10 investment will strengthen Samsung's market-leading position in DRAMs and SRAMs. We will also emerge as the top company in the flash memory area," said Lee.

As a result of the upswing in semiconductor and TFT-LCD exports, Samsung Electronics Semiconductor Business expects this year's sales to total US$9.3 billion (KRW11 trillion). Sales for memory alone are forecast to reach US$6 billion, making this the seventh straight year that Samsung Electronics has held the top share of the world memory market.

According to Dataquest, the world DRAM market in 1999 will total US$21 billion and is expected to increase at a rate of 44.3%, to reach US$30 billion next year. Average annual sales growth through 2002 is forecast at 43%.

Meanwhile, Samsung's TFT-LCD sales are expected to reach US$2.2 billion this year, and Samsung expects to maintain its top position in this area for the second year in a row.

In 2000, Samsung Electronics will expand its research staff by 400 people, and a total of US$2.2 billion will be invested in new facilities. Next year's R&D budget is set at US$600 million. The research effort is aimed at developing next-generation devices with faster processing speeds and larger memory capacities. These products will differentiate Samsung in the marketplace, expand sales and extend its leadership. Since Samsung Electronics sold off its Power Device Division, the company has restructured operations around value-added products, including the System LSI division. System LSI sales for the month of November came to US$100 million. Performance for the year will be around US$1.1 billion, an increase of over 40% from 1998.

A total of KRW1.3 trillion will be invested in the System LSI Division by 2002, laying the groundwork for Samsung to grow at an annual average rate of 25%, reaching annual sales of US$4 billion by 2005. Samsung will concentrate resources on the development of sophisticated, value-added ICs for digital TVs, IMT-2000 hardware, printers and LCD monitors. Investment will also be expanded in facilities producing the world's largest 4th-generation TFT-LCD glass substrates. Thus, the company can accommodate growing TFT-LCD demand and solidify its top ranking in this area.

"We will grow our System LSI division to respond to an expanding market for multi- functional digital products while maintaining our lead in memory devices. We will also expand our production of large-screen TFT-LCDs for notebook PCs and desktop monitors. As a result, we expect total sales of the Semiconductor Business to increase by over 15% next year," Lee remarked.