Pushing forward in its head-to-head battle with Intel
for the flash memory
The Am29BDS640G Flash memory, AMD’s new 1.8 volt 64Megabit device, will be
capitalized in the hand-held portable and cellular markets, where a low
voltage format can extend battery life dramatically.
Flash memory is a constantly-powered nonvolatile memory that can be erased
and reprogrammed in blocks, rather than at the byte level.
Despite a weak chip market, demand for flash memory, driven by the cellular
and 2.5G and 3.5G wireless phone markets, remains strong.
According to a report issued last week by the Semiconductor Industry
Association, while computer and computer-related sector demand is lagging,
wireless and consumer sectors continue to strengthen. With this industry
acceleration comes a boom for flash, digital signal processors, and
application specific products, all of which increased by double digits rates
in the June quarter.
Intel, who battles AMD head-to-head on many fronts, itself has a line of low
power consumption flash memory to counter AMD’s offering.
AMD’s new flash memory device supports 54MHz microprocessors used in
advanced cell phones and other emerging portable applications, and allows
for random access times of 70 ns and synchronous access times of 13.5 ns.
The Am29BDS640G operates at 1.8 volts and features a high-performance
burst-mode interface and simultaneous read/write architecture.
In addition to the 64mb unit, the flash memory device is also available in a
multi-chip package (MCP) with either 8 Mb or 16 Mb of 1.8 Volt SRAM, which
allows AMD customers to design end products that are smaller and lighter.
The Am29BDS640G operates at 1.8 volts and features a burst-mode interface
and Simultaneous Read/Write architecture.
The new product is available now, priced at $10.75 in 10,000 piece
quantities.
Flash Without Draining Your Battery
