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Elpida acquires graphics memory IP from Qimonda; production outsourced
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The Graphics Double Data Rate (GDDR) memory IP portfolio from insolvent Qimonda has been sold to Elpida Memory. Nearly 50 engineers and other former Qimonda employees involved in GDDR development work will now take up new posts within Elpida to quickly ramp up the GDDR business once again.
"Graphics systems now need graphics buffer memory with a data transfer rate of more than 5-Gigabit/sec given the rapidly growing popularity of high-definition format graphics data, 3D graphics and various display formats," said Takao Adachi, Elpida's Chief Technology Officer. "In response to this need we will shortly begin commercial production of GDDR5, for which an even faster data transfer rate of 8-Gigabit/sec may be feasible in the near future. To achieve such high speeds advanced technologies for I/O signal transmission as well as internal high speed circuits are crucial. The important GDDR technologies we have acquired can now contribute not only to Elpida's graphics memory development but also to the improvement of our overall DRAM design technologies."
However, production of 1-Gigabit GDDR3 and 1-Gigabit GDDR5 products will be outsourced to Winbond Electronics as they have previous experience with Qimonda's process technology. Elpida said that shipments are expected to resume in the first half of CY 2010.
Elpida plans to begin mass production of 2-Gigabit GDDR5 at its Hiroshima Plant starting in the second half of CY 2010.