Memory trio hail DDR3 launches
Qimonda, Elpida and Kingston launch DDR3 offerings
Memory makers Qimonda, Elpida and Kingston are celebrating the launch of the next generation of DRam products, DDR3.
Qimonda has started shipping its first DDR3 components and modules to motherboard vendors and manufacturers of overclocking memory modules. The company has also received validation on Intel products.
Michael Buckermann, vice-president of business unit computing at Qimonda, said: “Our DDR3-1333 devices deliver superior performance, bandwidth, and the modules show an extraordinary overclocking capability. The validation of our DDR3 standard components and modules on Intel reference platforms demonstrates our technology leadership and shows that we are well positioned to serve this emerging market.”
Pete MacWilliams, senior fellow at Intel, said: “Qimonda’s DDR3 memory technology will enable Intel’s desktop platforms to achieve higher performance, lower power and increased capacity in 2007. I expect DDR3 memory to be the key architecture for several years.”
DDR3 memory offers significant benefits over DDR2, including being twice as fast, but has been slower to catch on with PC and notebook makers than originally predicted. The second half of this year will see the first wave of DDR3-based products start to ship, but it will be 2008 before there is any real movement.
Elpida has also received Intel validation of its DDR3 main memory products, based on the G33 chipset reference platform. Elpida said it has delivered tens of thousands of the DDR3 DIMMS to Intel for validation testing and said it is now ready to ship to suppliers. Both its DDR3-1066 and DDR3-1333 products have been validated.
Kingston’s DDR3-1066 offerings have also received the Intel thumbs-up. According to Rajesh Panicker, country manager, Kingston Technology, India: “As Kingston prepares for the industry migration to the new DDR3 memory technology, having validation on Intel Reference Platforms is critical to indicating we have a ready solution for PC system manufacturers, motherboard builders and the early adopter community.”