DRAM

The DRAM industry in the second and third quarters of 2009 posted the strongest sequential growth in revenue and pricing seen in at least five years, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp.

Demand for the next generation DRAM chip, DDR3 (double data rate, third generation), has spiked recently as systems makers turn to it for increased power efficiency and performance.

In the late 1960s, IBM researcher Robert H. Dennard invented Dynamic Random Access Memory, or DRAM, the memory used in virtually all computers today. Dennard followed in the mid-1970s with a groundbreaking paper describing how to keep shrinking transistors to build smaller, faster and less expensive chips. For those achievements, Dennard, who celebrated his 51st year as an IBM employee this week, will receive a Medal of Honor from the Institute of Electrical Engineers next Thursday.

The FTC has officially dropped its antitrust case against memory maker Rambus, after losing a Supreme Court case in February.

Japan's Elpida Memory made a massive loss in the year to March 31 due to falling DRAM prices, according to preliminary figures published Monday.

Taiwan plans to merge its indebted DRAM memory chip makers into a single company called Taiwan Memory Company (TMC) in an attempt to stem losses and prevent loan defaults that could further harm the island's banking sector.

Micron Technology will lay off as many as 2,000 additional people as demand for DRAM products continues to decline.

Hynix Semiconductor reported its fifth straight quarterly loss on Thursday, as a chip glut and ebbing computer demand sent prices down in the fourth quarter of last year.

DRAM chip prices spiked last week over supply concerns after chip maker Qimonda filed for bankruptcy protection in Germany, and prices will likely continue to climb, Gartner said Monday.

Rambus officials say they will appeal a judge's ruling accusing them of destroying evidence in a DRAM patent case.

Asian DRAM makers Elpida, Powerchip and ProMOS have begun talks on bringing their companies together under a single group, Elpida said Friday.