Micron Technology Inc. has announced a major six-year agreement to supply DDR SDRAM memory to Microsoft Corp. for use in the forthcoming Xbox game console. Due in the fall of 2001, the Xbox will reportedly use an Intel Corp. 733-MHz, x86-based chip, a graphics chip, 3D audio circuit, 8 GByte hard drive and 64-MBytes of memory. It will compete with the popular Sony PlayStation 2 that uses Rambus DRAM.

Micron sees the deal as a way of diversifying beyond the PC market. Sales VP Mike Sadler said, "Not only does DDR provide more performance than other available technologies; it leverages the existing manufacturing infrastructure."

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