Just to throw some more fuel on the fire, this isn't the first time we've seen this happen. Back in early 2010 we saw a video card with ATI branded DDR2 - we never did find out why.
What a strange market to enter, and with such uninspiring products to boot. I hope they just licensed their trademarks and logo to a enterprising OEM, cause I don't see how a memory division could help their bottom line.
If it's decent quality memory and has a competitive price/performance, why not though? OEMs would probably go for it if AMD sells it cheaper as a part of a package deal.
But it's such a tiny fraction of people who would spend any more than the bare minimum on RAM. Must be a licensing thing. Perhaps there will be more products such as motherboards, cases, heatsinks, etc., that will use the Radeon brand.
Do any of us really know what the cost is to make RAM?
Who's to say they aren't making a profit at $9.99/stick? If Chinese motherboard manufacturers can sell high end boards for $30 USD, that's the signal to me that typical North American pricing is set as high as it is not to cover manufacturing costs, but rather to cover R&D and provide a healthy profit.
But if the R&D is already done, and you're a chip fabrication company, there'd be a pretty low barrier to entire?
Maybe AMD hopes to get some of the next-gen console pie? (Or do those have everything stuck straight to the motherboard?)
NCIX was promoting them on facebook in 2GB quantities, pricing seems decent with the instant rebate but it still seems like slow ram. I'm not sure how this is supposed to promote Llano or Bulldozer with such relaxed timings, it almost seems like it may shed negative light on their other products if packaged as a whole.
In current AMD's situation, if this unit makes 10 million a year, heck even a single million, it should be worth it for them. Anything that brings money in is good for them. And RAM is a RAM, if it has the same specs, the same price as any other, people are going to buy it. Unless the market inds out too early they are failing at muich higher rate than the competition. Or Anand finds out the stick is slower than the rest.
What AMD really needs to do (I do not know if this is a place they can make money in) is to make cheap notebook memory with ddr3 1600 or ddr3 1866. The notebook oems are putting single channel memory (4gb stick) and dual channel 1066 memory (2x2gb) in their llano systems. This is holding their APU back. If AMD can make cheap notebook memory (even with relaxed timings) and if they can get the OEMs to buy it, then their APU will perform better.
The desktop market is already so cut throat when it comes to memory, and with those timings I doubt AMD will make money with their memory.
1. At the current prices of 4 GB modules I don't see much point in buying 2 GB modules, except if you have to go the very-cheap route. Even if you don't need 8 GB right now, these modules will have a longer useful life span. (remember all those 512 MB DDR1 modules? You can find them laying around anywhere now, but the 1 GB modules are still highly valuable)
2. "ULTRA PRO Gaming" - what a horrible name!
3. DDR3-1600 at 11-11-11? That's a joke, isn't it? I can not see this being competitve with G-Skill or Corsair or...
I can't wait to get GPU naming schemes applied to my RAM. Now we get to have the Radeon Ultra Pro Gaming Elite Crossfire Edition Model 210 SE DDR3 memory. And of course the "SE" model is dramatically cut down from the regular Radeon Ultra Pro Gaming Elite Crossfire Edition Model 210.
And maybe if it's successful enough, we'll get other manufacturers copying the naming scheme.
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Ryan Smith - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Just to throw some more fuel on the fire, this isn't the first time we've seen this happen. Back in early 2010 we saw a video card with ATI branded DDR2 - we never did find out why.http://www.anandtech.com/show/2939
Kristian Vättö - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Thanks Ryan! I updated the article :)MartinT - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
What a strange market to enter, and with such uninspiring products to boot. I hope they just licensed their trademarks and logo to a enterprising OEM, cause I don't see how a memory division could help their bottom line.jabber - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Yes certainly doesnt look anything special.Wont match any of my motherboards looking like that either.
bigboxes - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Yeah, if they don't have a heatspreader the size of an anvil they won't get a dime of my money. :eyerollTargon - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
If it's decent quality memory and has a competitive price/performance, why not though? OEMs would probably go for it if AMD sells it cheaper as a part of a package deal.MonkeyPaw - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
That's the thing, memory is cheap. Then again, not all memory in the same class is priced the same. I guess there's room for an easy markup.Lifted - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
But it's such a tiny fraction of people who would spend any more than the bare minimum on RAM. Must be a licensing thing. Perhaps there will be more products such as motherboards, cases, heatsinks, etc., that will use the Radeon brand.BikeHelmet - Tuesday, August 9, 2011 - link
Do any of us really know what the cost is to make RAM?Who's to say they aren't making a profit at $9.99/stick? If Chinese motherboard manufacturers can sell high end boards for $30 USD, that's the signal to me that typical North American pricing is set as high as it is not to cover manufacturing costs, but rather to cover R&D and provide a healthy profit.
But if the R&D is already done, and you're a chip fabrication company, there'd be a pretty low barrier to entire?
Maybe AMD hopes to get some of the next-gen console pie? (Or do those have everything stuck straight to the motherboard?)
BikeHelmet - Tuesday, August 9, 2011 - link
That should be "entry" - not "entire". My first post here, and I make a flub like that. =Pbigboxes - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
I was being sarcastic. Heatspreaders are pretty worthless. On the AMD memory, I agree with you totally.medys - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Che if they make this RAM not worse and not more expensive than competition I'll buy it, simply because I want to support AMD :)praeses - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
NCIX was promoting them on facebook in 2GB quantities, pricing seems decent with the instant rebate but it still seems like slow ram. I'm not sure how this is supposed to promote Llano or Bulldozer with such relaxed timings, it almost seems like it may shed negative light on their other products if packaged as a whole.Kristian Vättö - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Thanks. I have updated the article.Lord Raiden - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
In current AMD's situation, if this unit makes 10 million a year, heck even a single million, it should be worth it for them. Anything that brings money in is good for them. And RAM is a RAM, if it has the same specs, the same price as any other, people are going to buy it. Unless the market inds out too early they are failing at muich higher rate than the competition. Or Anand finds out the stick is slower than the rest.Roland00Address - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
What AMD really needs to do (I do not know if this is a place they can make money in) is to make cheap notebook memory with ddr3 1600 or ddr3 1866. The notebook oems are putting single channel memory (4gb stick) and dual channel 1066 memory (2x2gb) in their llano systems. This is holding their APU back. If AMD can make cheap notebook memory (even with relaxed timings) and if they can get the OEMs to buy it, then their APU will perform better.The desktop market is already so cut throat when it comes to memory, and with those timings I doubt AMD will make money with their memory.
MrSpadge - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
1. At the current prices of 4 GB modules I don't see much point in buying 2 GB modules, except if you have to go the very-cheap route. Even if you don't need 8 GB right now, these modules will have a longer useful life span. (remember all those 512 MB DDR1 modules? You can find them laying around anywhere now, but the 1 GB modules are still highly valuable)2. "ULTRA PRO Gaming" - what a horrible name!
3. DDR3-1600 at 11-11-11? That's a joke, isn't it? I can not see this being competitve with G-Skill or Corsair or...
gevorg - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
All-in-one HTPC mobo? Just add APU of choice to a mobo with build-in memory, boot SSD drive, WiFi, etc.s44 - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Would buy CL11 1600!?Egglick - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
I can't wait to get GPU naming schemes applied to my RAM. Now we get to have the Radeon Ultra Pro Gaming Elite Crossfire Edition Model 210 SE DDR3 memory. And of course the "SE" model is dramatically cut down from the regular Radeon Ultra Pro Gaming Elite Crossfire Edition Model 210.And maybe if it's successful enough, we'll get other manufacturers copying the naming scheme.
nofumble62 - Monday, August 8, 2011 - link
Putting a brand onto someone's product won't make it cheaper.So who would buy these? Only two possibility
1. either an AMD fanboi
2. idiot don't know anything better.
piroroadkill - Tuesday, August 9, 2011 - link
The PCB should most definitely be red. What were they thinking? Without it, it looks like any generic RAM just with a sticker.Red PCB, AMD. Come on! Maybe a cute looking red heatspreader. Have some imagination!