Chips: Hitachi Introduces 64-Mbit Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM Components - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Oct 12, 1998

Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. Monday announced the availability of its 64-Mbit Double Data Rate (DDR) synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) components, with sample shipments commencing in November 1998. Offering data transfer rates double that of conventional SDRAM, these components are ideal for the construction of DDR modules for use within high-end personal computers, workstations and servers.

DDR SDRAM Keeps Pace with Industry's Leapfrog-Pace System Speeds Proposed and developed by JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council), the Double Data Rate open standard addresses the high data throughput requirements demanded by the industry's dramatic increases in microprocessor speeds. As opposed to conventional synchronous SDRAM, DDR facilitates this rapid data transfer rate by enabling the device to perform read/write operations on both the rising and falling edges of the system clock. As such, a Hitachi DDR memory module installed on a board with a DDR-ready 133-MHz system bus will have an effective data throughput of 266 Mbps (millions of bits per second) for each I/O pin for a total transfer rate of 2.1 GBytes/second. This enhanced performance provides an optimized solution for 3-D image processing, high-speed cache memory, and the typical main/expanded memory needs in workstations, servers and high-end PCs.

Developed using a 0.25-micron CMOS process, Hitachi's DDR components support system speeds of 83, 100, 125 and 133 MHz and conform to the industry's CAS latency requirements of 2/2.5. Supply voltage is 2.5 V.

"With the current processor-driven system demands necessitating faster memory performance, Hitachi supports the JEDEC DDR specification as an optimized, open memory solution," said Jim Sogas, director of DRAM marketing at Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. "By combining our proven process technologies and mature manufacturing capabilities, Hitachi is ready to support this emerging standard."

Pricing and Availability:

Speed (MHz)       Configuration      Part Number         Price
                                                   (10k quantities)
    83                 4-bit         HM5464401DTT-12       $15
                       8-bit         HM5464801DTT-12       $15
                      16-bit         HM5464161DTT-12       $15
   100                 4-bit         HM5464401DTT-10       $15
                       8-bit         HM5464801DTT-10       $15
                      16-bit         HM5464161DTT-10       $15
   125                 4-bit         HM5464401DTT-8        $15
                       8-bit         HM5464801DTT-8        $15
                      16-bit         HM5464161DTT-8        $15
   133                 4-bit         HM5464401DTT-7H       $18
                       8-bit         HM5464801DTT-7H       $18
                      16-bit         HM5464161DTT-7H       $18

Samples will be available in November 1998 and mass production will begin in January 1999. About Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc.

Hitachi Semiconductor (America) Inc. - a subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd. and Hitachi, Ltd. - supports the requirements of the North American marketplace with a broad range of standard and low power semiconductor solutions. Offering some of the industry's most popular RISC microprocessors and memory components among other semiconductor solutions, Hitachi provides chips to the world's leading device manufacturers within industrial, consumer and emerging market applications.

Based on 1997 unit shipments, Hitachi is the world's single-largest provider of 32-bit RISC microprocessors and the second-largest provider of microcontrollers and flash memory cards.(1) The Company's substantial design engineering, research and development facilities in the United States help bring the world's best technology to U.S. customers.

(1) Microprocessor and flash card market position based on 1997 research data from Semico Research Corp., Phoenix, Ariz. Microcontroller market position based on 1997 research data from Cahners In-Stat Group, Scottsdale, Ariz. FMI: http://www.hitachi.com/semiconductor