Although RDRAM is a dead duck on the PC market, memory module makers now announce 32-bit RIMM modules since there are mainboards that support them and there will be even more of such platforms during the coming months. Today Kingston Technology Company announced their new RDRAM modules in 232-pin form factor.

At the moment there is only one mainboard where 32-bit RIMM modules can be installed: ASUS P4T533, based on the i850E core-logic. Nevertheless, other leading mainboard manufacturers will also start to make i850E based mobos that support the new memory modules Moreover, the R658 chipset from SiS also offers such type of memory, as a result the demand on such RIMM modules will grow up soon. Even that I have no idea if such products will ever become popular, I am pretty sure there will be enough space on the market for devices from Samsung and Kingston and maybe even a couple of other companies. Taking into account the fact that Kingston does not have their own semiconductor manufacturing facilities, I can make a quite bold assumption that memory chips used by Kingston are manufactured by Samsung, one of the very last RDRAM makers on the planet.

Kingston will sell their new 32-bit RIMM modules under the ValueRAM brand-name. The company launch both PC3200 and PC4200 products, providing 3.2GB/s and 4.2GB/s of peak bandwidth respectively. The latter utililse PC1066 memory that is not officially supported by Intel until the 7th of October, when the company will officially announce the support of PC1066 in their i850E core-logic.

32-bit RIMM modules require their own 232-pin form-factor and cannot be installed in present mainboards (except the P4T533 from ASUS). Modules from Kingston utilise 256/288Mb chips with 32 or 40nm access time and programmed by SPD.

Here is the list of PC3200 modules:

- R800A32-4/128 128MB, non-ECC - $53.00
- KVR800A36-4/128 128MB, ECC - $57.00
- KVR800A32-8/256 256MB, non-ECC - $112.00
- KVR800A36-8/256 256MB, ECC - $130.00

The list of PC4200 products:

- KVR1066X32-4/128 128MB, non-ECC - $105.00
- KVR1066X36-4/128 128MB, ECC - $111.00
- KVR1066X32-8/256 256MB, non-ECC - $197.00
- KVR1066X36-8/256 256MB, ECC - $208.00

Apart from mentioned, Kingston will also offer terminators for spare 32-bit RIMM slots for $5.Of course, all the products are covered by lifetime-warranty.