Elpida Memory announced that its 240-pin DDR-II SDRAM memory modules were approved by Intel after successfully testing such devices in the labs. This is definitely not the first time of a fully-functional DDR-II powered system because last year US-based Micron already demonstrated its DDR-II memory modules with third-party chipsets a number of times, however, this is still an achievement of Elpida.

Demonstrated DDR-II DIMM was an unbuffered 512MB memory module that utilised 5ns memory chips. Although the nominal speed of such DRAMs is 200MHz (400Mbps), looks like it also can function at 266MHz (533Mbps) effectively providing 4.20GB/s of bandwidth. Core voltage of DDR-II chips is typically 1.80V, while the module itself is a little bit different from ordinary SDR SDRAM and DDR SDRAM memory sticks you are acquainted with because of 240-pins instead of 168- and 184-pins.

In June this year Elpida will begin sampling its 1Gb DDR-II memory chips. The DRAMs will be produced using advanced 0.11 micron fabrication technology.

It is expected that DDR-II SDRAM memory modules will function at 400, 533 and 667MHz speeds. In order to distinguish between the first and the second generations of double data rate memory, JEDEC will add “2” digit in the brand-names of such type of modules: PC2-3200 (instead of PC3200), PC2-4200, PC2-5400 and so on.

Intel is expected to release its next-generation platform with DDR-II support for higher-end Prescott and Tejas processors in the first half of 2004.