Taiwan Goes DDR2 SDRAM: First Taiwanese DDR2 Chips, Modules Released
 

TwinMOS, a famous memory chip and module manufacturer, on Friday announced its first 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM memory modules for desktops, servers and workstations. The move is highlighted by the fact that TwinMOS is yet the only company from Taiwan to unveil DDR2 products.

DDR2 (DDR-II) SDRAM 240-pin memory modules from TwinMOS will have 1.8V voltage and will be initially available at 400MHz, (CL3) 533MHz (CL4) and 667MHz (CL4) speed-bins. The PC2-3200 registered DIMMs will feature ECC and will be intended mostly for servers. Higher-speed components, such as PC2-PC4200 and PC5300, will be available for desktops and targeted primarily on computer enthusiasts demanding high overclockability and stunning bandwidth.

667MHz is not a speed officially supported by JEDEC today or Intel’s upcoming components for servers or workstations. Nevertheless, there may still be demand for such high-performance parts from die-hard overclockers as well as system integrators utilizing SiS656 core-logic that officially sports dual-channel DDR2 memory at speeds of up to 667MHz from Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation.

Taipei Hsien, Taiwan-based memory company did not elaborate on sizes of its fresh DDR2 modules in megabytes, which is a rather surprising absence of details. Other memory makers offer 256MB, 512MB and 1GB DDR2 memory modules.

TwinMOS is likely to use its own Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array (FBGA) DDR2 chips manufactured using 0.10 micron process technology on its new memory modules. However, typically the company uses its own DRAMs, or acquires components from Winbond, Nanya or Hynix Semiconductor for its DIMMs.

While Taiwanese memory manufacturers do not command the lion’s share of the world’s DRAM market, they have been playing a key-role in acceleration the natural process of decreasing DDR memory prices. In case TwinMOS as well as some other Taiwan-based DRAM makers are able to supply significant volumes of DDR2, the cost of such memory modules is likely to reduce already this year.

According to the company’s official plans, DDR2 memory chips and modules will be available later this year when Intel releases its i915P/i915G and i925X chipsets.


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