Kingston first to market full line of PC2100 DDR DIMM memory modules

Kingston Technology Company, Inc, the world`s largest independent memory manufacturer, has announced the release of a new line of PC2100 DIMM modules to complement its previously released line of PC1600 DIMM modules. Kingston products are distributed in southern Africa by Axiz.

The modules range from 128MB to the industry`s first commercially available high-capacity 512MB PC2100 DIMM modules. The new PC2100 memory modules are designed for integration on motherboards that have been qualified by their manufacturers to support 266MHz PC2100 DDR DIMM modules.

In addition to the platforms already shipping, new server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms utilizing DDR SDRAM memory are expected to be introduced in 2001 and 2002. These platforms, utilizing 200MHz or 266MHz DDR DIMM memory modules will provide increased system performance over existing PC133 systems, respectively delivering up to 1.6GB/second and 2.1GB/second of memory bandwidth.

"Kingston now offers the industry`s first comprehensive DDR product line composed of both PC1600 and PC2100 DIMMs that will provide our OEM, system integrator, corporate, and channel customers with flexible memory configuration options," said Mike Sager, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Kingston.

"Our release of the 266MHz PC2100 DDR modules comes after several months of intensive engineering efforts, " explains JK Tsai, Director of Technology, Kingston. "Kingston engineers worked closely with global semiconductor manufacturers, as well as DDR chipset and motherboard manufacturers. Our engineers first tested DDR memory chips on the Agilent 83000 platform to characterize them and verify compliance with specifications; then, Kingston`s memory modules were stress tested on different platforms," added Tsai.

Kingston worked with an external lab, Advanced Validation Labs, Inc. (AVL), to conduct extensive testing of the DDR DIMM modules. AVL successfully validated Kingston`s PC2100 modules using reference boards and processes provided by chipset manufacturers, and conducted extensive additional testing on a number of motherboards provided by the largest motherboard manufacturers.

Kingston`s PC2100 memory modules were subjected to `4-corner` testing, a stress testing process, which subjects memory modules to extreme voltage and temperature conditions. All PC2100 modules passed this testing successfully on the latest 2100-qualified motherboards.

In addition to shipping DDR modules for OEM systems as they become available, Kingston is now shipping the following ValueRAM DDR modules:

table

With annual sales over $1.6 billion in 2000, Kingston offers a complete line of memory, storage, networking and PC enhancement products. With strictly regulated ISO-registered facilities in the United States (ISO 9001), Ireland (ISO 9002), Malaysia (ISO 9002) and Taiwan (ISO 9002), Kingston markets its products through an extensive worldwide network of distributors, major reseller chains and independent dealers.