The DDR3 memory type might provide makers of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) much needed profitability because of the higher price, but the global economic slump as well as reported technical issues are likely to cause global transition to DDR3 to slip into 2010.

According to a news-story by DigiTimes web-site, Intel will introduce its mainstream 5-series chipsets for Nehalem-generation Core i7 and Core i5 processors with integrated DDR3 memory controller only in September 2009, which means that during the crucial back-to-school season the company’s DDR2 and Core 2-based platforms will dominate the market. Moreover, the same outlet claims that AMD “is still struggling with technical difficulties to achieve stability and compatibly with the DDR3 controller” built into its central processing units in AM3 form-factor.

Originally introduced in 2007, the DDR3 memory has not managed to become popular in two years and is unlikely to capture the market even in 2010 due to natural sluggishness of the industry.

The transition to new memory type, which is likely to take four years, will be among the longest in the industry. It took the market about two years to transit to DDR from SDR and approximately two and a half years to transfer to DDR2 from DDR.

AMD, Intel and memory makers did not originally comment on the news-story.

"As previously disclosed, AMD plans to offer DDR3 memory capabilities with the “Maranello” server platform in the first half of 2010. And for desktops, we still plan to offer DDR3 ready processors later this quarter," an alleged AMD spokesperson said in comments to the story.

Tags: AMD, DDR3, Intel