Chipmakers say no to Intel RDRAM payola

Among last week's headlines were several about Intel Corp.'s subsidy of Samsung Electronics' Rambus DRAM production. Jack Robertson of EBNews now writes that a number of memory manufacturers have turned down Intel offers of cash to help boost RDRAM output, and others have taken the money but failed to deliver.

Reportedly, Hyundai Electronics Industries and Elpida Memory have turned down Intel investment offers, preferring to follow their own advice in regards to the DDR/Rambus choice. Elpida, however, has increased RDRAM production on its own. On the other hand, the $750 million Intel said it invested in Micron Technology and Infineon Technologies to induce RDRAM production have not accomplished that goal.

A related article by Mark Hachman details Intel's attempt to change, or at least straddle, memory horses midstream.

For more on the subsidies, read ebnews.com. . For the piece on Intel's DDR strategy, read ebnews.com.