Intel, Rambus wave goodbye on platform as gravy train shunts out

IT'S NOW CLEAR from the latest Intel roadmaps we've seen that the 850E, and by definition Rambus RDRAM memory, is not much longer for the PC planet. Unless, that is, SIS comes to the rescue of the memory type during 2003.

The RDRAM gravy train is being shunted out of the INTC station.

As we reported yesterday, graphics on the roadmap show that the 850E, which will be validated for 1066 RDRAM come early October, will converge into Springdale-P in the second quarter of next year. The 845PE, which is not yet released and which is a DDR 333 chipset, also converges into Springdale-P then.

Springdale-P supports ICH5 and Serial ATA.

That will leave SIS as the sole flagbearer for RDRAM memory in PCs, bringing to an end the close relationship between Intel and Rambus.

We reported in early March that Rambus was set to capture another chipset player but so far none of the X86 players have gone for it.

SIS will have at least two Rambus chipsets out of the door. The R658DX, which supports dual RDRAM 1333 memory is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2003. Its first 1066 Rambus chip is already out.

SIS told us at CeBIT this year that it believed there would still be sufficient demand for RDRAM for it to produce chipsets using it. Samsung's roadmaps show it producing these memories for some time forward.

The demise of RDRAM from Intel's desktop roadmap is really the end of an era. Chipzilla attempted to muscle the hardware and the PC vendors into using RDRAM memory but there was widespread market resistance to the move, and in the end the market prevailed. Intel has no doubt learned its lesson.

It will be interesting, when SIS' next Rambus chipset emerges, to see how well PCs perform using it, against other, DDR platforms. But SIS will no doubt have something of an uphill struggle marketing it, after it goes it alone. µ

1 posted on 09/04/2002 4:25:05 AM PDT by JameRetief

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; rdb3

A 'Something that might interest you', ping.

2 posted on 09/04/2002 4:25:56 AM PDT by JameRetief

Wasn't Rambus the company who angered most of the computer industry with their patent claims?

3 posted on 09/04/2002 6:00:33 AM PDT by knighthawk

Rambus..you ever watch how that stock went way out of sight from $80 to over $200 in a couple months time and then soared to $400?? couple years ago..another prime example of the reason the Bubble popped..!

4 posted on 09/04/2002 10:19:32 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay

To: JameRetief; *tech_index; Mathlete; Apple Pan Dowdy; grundle; beckett; billorites; One More Time; ...

Tech world is awaiting the Hammers!

Hope they run cooler than my XP 2000+!

To find all articles tagged or indexed using tech_index

Click here: tech_index

5 posted on 09/04/2002 11:21:01 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Wasn't Rambus the company who angered most of the computer industry with their patent claims?

Yep, that is the company.

6 posted on 09/04/2002 4:09:07 PM PDT by JameRetief

It was more of a sarcastic comment. I can imagine not too many companies want to help them anymore.

7 posted on 09/04/2002 4:10:49 PM PDT by knighthawk

It was more of a sarcastic comment. I can imagine not too many companies want to help them anymore.

Sorry, missed the sarcasm (why can't there be a sarcasm font?) :-)

Rambus did dig their own grave, but they gave the dirt to their competition.

8 posted on 09/04/2002 8:00:40 PM PDT by JameRetief

My fault, I forgot the /sarcasm tag.

9 posted on 09/05/2002 4:12:29 PM PDT by knighthawk

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