by Anton Shilov
11/14/2002 | 09:08 PM
Two new members today entered the QBM Alliance, an international alliance founded by Kentron Technologies aimed at positioning Quad Band Memory (QBM) technology as an industry standard. The first one is ATP Electronics, a well-known memory module maker, another company to join the alliance is Tanisys Technology, a provider of automated test equipment for a wide variety of memory technologies, including DRAM, SDRAM, DDR, RDRAM and Flash.
I will remind you what the QBM actually is. The Quad Band DRAM allows to double the memory sub-system bandwidth using the widely-spread DDR SDRAM. Modules, that correspond to QBM standard make use of ordinary memory chips mentioned above, however, thanks to using an additional PLL, half of the chips work at 90 degrees displaced frequency, hence, data becomes available almost two times more frequently compared to ordinary modules. Basically, such way of functioning resembles a 128-bit memory module with a pair of 64-bit channels that switch, in turns, one over another. The linear peak bandwidth of such memory system can be up to 4.2GB/s when using ordinary 266MHz memory chips (PC2100). Moreover, since QBM utilises the same 184-pin design of modules, mainboards to support QBM will allow to install ordinary DDR SDRAM as well. In fact, I had several doubts that this type of memory will become spread widely due to VIA’s efforts and even posted a news-story with my concerns here. The first QBM-supporting chipset from VIA is scheduled to appear in the first half of 2003.<%BANNER[article]%>
As alliance members, ATP and Tanisys will receive priority resources from Kentron that include QBM modules, simulation models, design guides, technical documentation, and engineering support for technology evaluation and product implementation. Other members of the QBM Alliance include Acer Laboratories, Acuid Corporation, Avant Technology, CST, Denali Software, Integrated Circuit Systems (ICS), Kentron Technologies itself, Netlist, Peripheral Enhancements, PNY Technologies, SiS, SiSoft, ST Microelectronics, Terarecon, and VIA Technologies, Inc.
Currently two members of the QBM alliance produce memory modules and two develop core-logic devices. One of them, VIA Technologies, does not have any rights to produce Pentium 4-supporting products, another one can soon loose the license from Intel. In case the chipsets are be produced illegally, there will be very few makers of mainboards to utilise them (see our Monday news-story). As a result, the new standard of the system-memory may fall into oblivion due to the absence of supporting core-logic devices. On the other hand, the QBM technology can find its place in non-PC related products.