Hynix will start mass-producing 550MHz DDR SDRAM chips next month, the memory maker announced this week, claiming the speed's availability as an industry first

It is already sampling the technology.

The South Korean company said it is pitching the memory at PC enthusiasts who want faster RAM but don't necessarily want to upgrade to DDR 2 to get it. DDR 2 remains at something of a premium over regular DDR SDRAM. Even Intel, which will launch its DDR 2-supporting Grantsdale chipset next quarter, has incorporated DDR support into the product as a transitionary measure.

Indeed, Hynix said it is anticipating "strong demand" for its 550MHz DDR parts during the second half of the year on the back of Grantsdale. ®