Intel to Back Alternative to Rambus Chips

Ending months of speculation, Intel (INTC Quote) embraced a low-cost alternative to Rambus-based (RMBS Quote) memory chips.

Intel said at the Intel Developers Forum in Palm Springs, Calif., late Wednesday that it will support PC133 SDRAMs in the first half of next year. The PC133 is a memory chip seen as a stopgap measure to chips using Rambus designs. Some companies have been critical of delays and high costs of Rambus chips. Intel's announcement will make it easy for Rambus critics to embrace an alternative while still working with chipsets made by Intel.

Intel is facing growing competition in memory chipsets, or devices that connect a computer's memory to its processor. By the time Intel's chipsets come out, they will be six months behind competitor Via Technology, a Taiwan-based company that has PC133 chipsets on the market now. ...