Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/10/15/satans_little_helpers_get_hammers/

Satan's little helpers get hammers out to i820 mobos

Still looks like Q1 as gnomes and elves remove third slot

By Mike Magee

Posted in On-Prem, 15th October 1999 06:54 GMT

Information from insiders close to Intel's plans is painting a picture of feverish activity as staff get rid of a third slot to fix an embarrassing problem with Rambus memory on i820 motherboards. It reminds The Register of Santa Claus surrounded by hordes of gnomes and elves frantically attempting to make toys quickly so that good children will be able to get tangerines, apples and i820 motherboards when they open their stockings on Christmas Day. Intel is now telling its customers it has a solution to its own problem with Vancouver (VC820) motherboards but is warning them that the boards probably will not now be available until Q1 of next year. However, our information is that the solution is no solution at all, and it's more of a sort of explanation. That's backed up by other sources on the Web. Intel will fix the problem with the i820 Rambus third slot by getting rid of it. If you want three slots, you're going to need another chipset. This will anger many in the industry. Over at HardOCP, the boys have a more technical version of this which says that low launch voltage exceeds the specification and derates RDRAM drive strength. It's something to do with position sensitivity. Be that as it may, it's going to take Satan's little helpers, and all of those mobo manufacturers and PC manufacturers, more than a week or two to come up with a two RIMM solution. Our source said he was told to expect the Vancouver motherboard early next year. So the kids might get their tangerines and apples in their stocking but an i820 mobo from Intel looks set, as we suggested last week, for Q1 2000. ® See also Rambus fixed? We'll wait and see Timing problem renders all Camino boards virtually useless How the whole Rambus thing looks