The high development costs and production problems that surround 1Gb memory chips have caused the industry to look to lower cost alternatives. IBM Corp has just announced that it has started producing 1Gb Synchronous DRAM modules (DIMMs) – based around 256Mb chips. Meanwhile, Japanese manufacturers are proclaiming 512Mb DRAMs as a good stop-gap until 1Gb chips appear on the market.
IBM’s 1Gb SDRAM dual in-line memory modules will be available in PC133 and PC100 speed grades. 512Mb versions will also be offered. IBM says that is producing the DIMMs because PC server and workstation manufacturers want the modules to use in their products this year. Even when 1Gb memory chips do arrive in volume on the market, 1Gb DIMMs are still likely to be competitive on a price/performance level.
Meanwhile, the EE Times reports that many of the major Japanese DRAM manufacturers – including NEC Corp, Toshiba Corp and Fujitsu Ltd – are talking about slotting 512Mb DRAMs in their roadmaps between the current 256Mb chips and the holy grail – the 1Gb DRAM. A move to 512Mb would also give manufacturers the option to produce memory modules over 1Gb.
