announce specification for GDDR-3
Next generation graphics DRAM specification available now
MARKHAM, Ontario (October 7, 2002) - In a collaborative effort with the
world's leading dynamic random access memory (DRAM) vendors, ATI Technologies
Inc. (TSX: ATY, NASDAQ: ATYT) has announced the completion of the specification
for the third generation of double data rate (DDR) DRAM for graphics, known as
GDDR3.
While today's DDR DRAM allows for speeds of up to 400MHz, GDDR3 was designed
to initially provide memory clocks of 500MHz, with headroom for up to 800MHz.
GDDR3 is targeted for introduction in 2003.
"GDDR3 is the DRAM that will fuel the continued trend in graphics towards
life-like virtual worlds," said Rick Bergman, Senior Vice President, Marketing
and General Manager, Desktop, ATI Technologies Inc. "ATI is committed to leading
innovation on the PC platform, and GDDR3 will allow us to continue to raise the
bar and define the industry standard for computer graphics in upcoming product
generations."
Over the past four years, advancements in DDR DRAM have allowed simple
graphic accelerators that rendered primitive 3D worlds to evolve into Visual
Processing Units (VPUs) that render life like cinematic worlds in real time as
recently demonstrated for the first time with ATI's RADEON* 9700 PRO and ATI's
FIREGL* X1.
GDDR3 not only continues the trend for the graphics industry to be an early
adopter of DRAM technology, but is the first DRAM designed specifically for a
market before an industry standard is available.
"Our expertise in memory characterisation and system implementation is
enabling GDDR3 as the ideal high-speed DRAM for graphics," said Terry Lee,
Executive Director of Advanced Technology and Strategic Marketing for Micron's
Computing and Consumer Group. "We believe the significant performance advantages
realised by this device will rapidly drive its adoption in the graphics arena.
We expect it will then migrate into a broad range of applications."
...2
"The graphics market has always been an early adopter of new DRAM
technology," said Peter Schaefer, vice president, memory products for Infineon
Technologies North America Corp. "Infineon has also led the way to bringing high
speed memories to market. GDDR3 complements Infineon's development of the high
speed graphics DRAMs that are used in today's cutting edge products."
Evolution of existing DRAM
Key to creating an ideal high-speed memory for graphics was the improvement
in key technical areas such as high speed signalling that is important in
designing DRAM for graphics, leveraging the work of JEDEC in defining DDR-II for
the commodity memory market.
"As a technology leader in high speed DRAM, Elpida congratulates ATI on
rallying and leading the industry in defining the GDDR3 specification," said Jun
Kitano, director of Technical Marketing at Elpida Memory (USA), Inc. "Leveraging
our experience in developing and manufacturing our DDR-II device, Elpida is
happy to have collaborated with ATI during the definition stages, as GDDR3 fits
into Elpida's plans to become a premier supplier of high speed memories to the
graphics market in 2003."
"The graphics market is all about speed", said Farhad Tabrizi, Vice President
of World-wide Marketing at Hynix Semiconductor America. "As the leader in
graphics DRAM, Hynix is committed to continue to provide high speed DRAMs to a
market that values innovation in a timely manner."
Specification complete
With the completion of the specification late in the summer of 2002, DRAM
vendors and users of high speed DRAMs can focus on the next step in the process
of delivering products to market. GDDR3 will become available in 2003 and should
continue to be an important inflection in graphics for years to come.
-30-
Copyright 2002 ATI Technologies Inc. All rights reserved. ATI and ATI product
and product feature names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ATI
Technologies Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of their respective owners. Features, pricing,
availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.
