by Anna Filatova
07/16/2002 | 10:54 PM
At present many analysts are discussing the transaction of the industry to DDR-II SDRAM memory, which is to take place in H2 2003. The usually quick (though not always in time) SiS and VIA Technologies companies are planning this transaction to become the case even earlier, in Q1 2003, though the majority of the manufacturers remain more conservative and do not hurry to adopt a new standard.
Among the latter we should definitely mention AMD, as they have implemented a PC2700 memory controller in their upcoming Hammer processor, thus leaving no room at all for any maneuvers. However, though in the beginning of 2003 the support of DDR-II will not be a must for the market, then in a year, in early 2004, when the processor core clock grows higher, it will be already critical, because the processor frequencies will brow up by then as well as the data the CPUs will need to process.<%BANNER[article]%>
You should also bear in mind that the support of new memory standard will become a stumbling stone for AMD. Unlike the common case when this or that RAM type or working mode is supported by the chipset, in case of ClawHammer we are talking about a PC2700 memory controller integrated into the CPU die. To modify it, AMD will have to redesign the entire CPU. It certainly implies some technological difficulties and will surely cost a lot of money. As a result, the support of newer memory types will be implemented only together with the other innovations requiring core redesign.
As we have already learned from unofficial sources, AMD is going to start moving its production capacities to 0.09micron technology next year. And the first devices to be manufactured with finer process will become ClawHammer processors for mobile PCs. The core redesign is a common and necessary thing when a shift to finer technology occurs (this is one of the reasons why we very rarely see graphics chips production moving to finer manufacturing technologies: takes too much time and the benefit is not justified). Therefore, we consider it pretty logical from the economical point of view that the 0.09micron ClawHammer acquires a new DDR-II memory controller.
And bearing in mind that DDR-II is to start getting widely spread in mid Q3 2003 at the earliest, then the introduction of new AMD ClawHammer core in early 2004 will be just in time for the industry as well as for the company itself.
Of course, we should understand that the info above is mostly suppositions based on rumors circulating all over the web and the actual state of things may differ from what we have just stated. The only thing we are pretty certain about, as it has been proven by an AMD rep, is that DDR-II will be supported by the company in their future products. When and where is another topic for discussion.
Read more about it here.