Here's an extensive collection of links to EE-Times articles on DRAM dating back to last year. EE-Times is probably read by everybody in the memory industry. Rosemary over on the main thread was asking me why we should know that DDR was a real technology. In the absence of a belief in an industry-wide conspiracy, (which seems less likely than a company-wide conspiracy) here are some articles that should place the relative time frame of DDR, SLDRAM, VCM, and Direct Rambus as far as samples, production, problems, &c:
January 5, 1998
Samsung rolls out 64-Mbit DDR DRAM
Several DRAM makers have committed to offering DDR parts, but Samsung said it is the first to show samples in working systems.
techweb.com
These RDRAMs are not the Direct type:
February 9, 1998
LG Semicon spins 64-Mbit RDRAMs
we may also be the first with Direct Rambus samples (in Summer 1998)
techweb.com
Time has shown this DDR fear to have been in error, at least with regular SDRAM:
April 10, 1998
Warning Alarm Sounds On Implications Of PC-100 Memory Bus
No such specification exists for DDR DRAM deviceds, however. And without it, system vendors may find it impossible to manufacture DDR-based systems using a variety of DRAM vendors, core-logic vendors, and motherboard designs.
techweb.com
You really don't see this sort of sentiment being voiced anymore:
April 13, 1998
Intel drags the PC industry to 100-MHz terrain
"DDR needs some sort of governing body to create a specification, and at the moment I don't see one."
techweb.com
April 20, 1998
PC makers embrace Rambus DRAM alternatives
DRAM evaluations are expected to begin in earnest now that samples of 64-Mbit DDR, SLDRAM and Direct RDRAM are hitting the market.
techweb.com
April 26, 1998
Taiwanese rally around PC133 SDRAM alternative
"Intel will stick with Rambus. They won't support PC133 or DDR publicly this year. Next year, Intel might have to flinch, however, if the market acknowledges the value of these memory solutions," he said.
techweb.com
I really don't think VCM is going to last too long, but who knows:
October 5, 1998
Chip-set support improves VCM's odds vs. Rambus -- NEC alters race to faster PC memory
techweb.com
October 6, 1998
Japanese Chip Makers Show First DDR DRAMs
techweb.com
October 12, 1998
Japanese chip makers spin first DDR DRAMs
DDR devices, which have been made into a Jedec standard, achieve high speeds by including DLL circuitry so that the device reads data on both the rising and falling clock edges of each clock cycle, effectively doubling the bandwidth. The concept is not unlike that used in Direct Rambus DRAMs, which will also soon start rolling out.
techweb.com
October 12, 1998
Fujitsu reveals technology, product initiatives
techweb.com
December 7, 1998
IBM samples 256-Mbit parts, joins 10 firms in endorsing format -- DDR picks up steam as next-gen DRAM choice
techweb.com
January 12, 1999
IBM, Reliance lead march toward Direct Rambus alternative
techweb.com
Probaby not a good sign, when you have to pay a memory maker to build your chips for you:
January 21, 1999
Intel Invests In Samsung To Push Rambus
techweb.com
February 1, 1999
Next-gen memory modules ready to roll
Hitachi's Fusco said that Rambus and DDR SDRAM at a 100-MHz (effective 200-MHz) frequency have comparable 1.6-Mbyte/s performance.
techweb.com
February 2, 1999
Intel Looks To Fund RDRAMs At Toshiba
techweb.com
February 18, 1999
Fujitsu Sees More Delays In Direct Rambus
techweb.com
February 22, 1999
Double-data-rate SDRAM picks up steam vs. Rambus
techweb.com
February 22, 1999
Hyundai Electronics will begin to ship commercial quantities of the Direct Rambus DRAMs in May, starting at 64-Mbit and 72-Mbit densities, and moving into full volume production by July.
Hyundai preps Rambus thrust
techweb.com
March 8, 1999
Rambus delay spurs ad hoc effort in U.S., Taiwan
techweb.com
March 8, 1999
NEC signs Hyundai to back VCM DRAM
techweb.com
March 29, 1999
Samsung ramps up 256-Mbit sync DRAM
Samsung Electronics said it has begun commercial manufacturing of 256-Mbit synchronous DRAMs, while NEC Corp. said it was ready to start sampling 128-Mbit Rambus DRAMs in April. ... NEC, meanwhile, said it will begin commercial sampling of its 128-Mbit RDRAM in April, at a sample price of $85 per chip, and start commercial production in July.
techweb.com
April 12, 1999
Toshiba launches 128-Mbit double-data-rate SDRAMs
Samples are available now in limited quantities. Production quantities are scheduled to be available in July, and production pricing will kick in at that time.
techweb.com
April 12, 1999
Just how fast are the new memories?
RDRAM is expected to support transfer rates of 1,200 to 1,600 Mbytes/s. PC-133 can support 1,066 Mbytes/s, and DDR-SDRAM can support 1,600 to 2,133 Mbytes/s.
techweb.com
Here's a guy who predicted the Intel announcement that hurt Rambus last week:
April 19, 1999
Rambus slows as DDR gains in DRAM race
Sogas predicted that Intel will reconsider its Rambus decision. ...
Meanwhile, many DRAM vendors who have publicly supported Direct Rambus while privately complaining of shaky technology and runaway costs appear to smell blood.
techweb.com
Now here is an example of some REALLY high bandwidth memory, and, incidentally, what will next start to take market share away from Rambus, starting in about 2 years or so:
February 16, 1999
Embedded DRAM Heads For Architectural Overhaul
The result is a DRAM macro with a 9.1-ns access cycle and 7.7-ns random write time. Maximum bandwidth using a 1,024-bit I/O running at 100 MHz is 12.8 gigabytes per second.
techweb.com
-- Carl |
