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RAM Speed Set to Double

Three new technologies vie for standard that will set memory speed for the next decade. Rambus has the lead.

By Brian McWilliams, PCWorld   

Processor clock speeds are going through the roof, but RAM performance is advancing more slowly. And some analysts predict that even speedy Synchronous DRAM memory could begin holding back overall PC system performance in the near future.

Right now, Intel is building large amounts of cache into its processors to prevent its CPUs from waiting around for system memory to cough up its data. But the company has also been putting the pressure on RAM designers to come up with something dramatic that can prevent RAM from being a drag.

While EDO RAM is currently the predominant memory format shipping in new PCs, market research firm Instat predicts that will give way to SDRAM next year. Competing for the position as memory format for the next decade are three new RAM technologies. At the head of the pack is Direct RDRAM from Rambus, which will hit the market in 1999. There%squots also something called SL DRAM, designed by a consortium including Siemens and Micron technology; and Double Data Rate Random Access Memory, or DDR DRAM, which has the support of chip set maker Via Technologies.

According to Instat analyst Steve Cullen, all three of these next-generation RAM technologies are about on par in terms of performance, more than doubling the speed and transfer rates of current technologies. However, Rambus, which designs but does not manufacture chips, has the only option so far to receive the stamp of approval from Intel, which will design support for Direct RDRAM into future chip sets.

Already, 13 RAM makers have agreed to pay Rambus for licensing and royalties fees for Direct RDRAM. But Cullen says that doesn%squott mean DDR and SL DRAM are dead in the water. Instat predicts that by the year 2000, 25 percent of the RAM sold for use in PCs will use one of these new technologies. And whichever format comes out on top, the good news is that RAM will keep pace with those fast CPUs coming down the pike.