DealerMart - Processor rivals may unite under Dram alliance

The new development alliance formed by Intel and five top Dram companies could open the future of memory-chip and processor-interface designs to all comers, members said.

The new development alliance formed by Intel and five top Dram companies could open the future of memory-chip and processor-interface designs to all comers, members said.

The Advanced Dram Technology initiative, whose mission is to develop a new Dram architecture for the 2003 PC market, officially ends Intel's attempt to dictate Direct Rambus Dram as the industry's sole future PC memory, some alliance partners said.

It also opens the way for Intel's microprocessor rivals, such as AMD and Via Technologies, to join the group on an equal footing.

In addition to Intel, the Dram alliance will initially include Hyundai MicroElectronics, Infineon Technologies, Micron Technology, NEC and Samsung Electronics America.

Farhad Tabrizi, vice-president of strategic marketing at Hyundai Electronics America, said Dram companies were delighted to have Intel working with the industry to jointly develop the next-generation architecture.

Intel also wants to avoid missing out on future development opportunities that its new industry partners might create, observers said. "Intel lost its position in defining PC133 SDRam and double data-rate memory by turning its back on these chips when it was solely pushing Direct Rambus," said Sherry Garber, an analyst at Semico Research.

The alliance means Intel has conceded it must work with the chip industry to develop fresh technologies, rather than unilaterally force architectures on the market, Dram partners said.

As part of its charter, the group will welcome additional participants under guidelines being drafted. Under the format, there will be no way to exclude Intel processor rivals AMD and Via from joining, provided they conform to its bylaws, said Bert McComas, an analyst at InQuest.

As potential members, the companies would stand on equal footing with Intel, working together to develop the memory market's next packet data-based Dram architecture and getting early access to design specifications.