Posted 12/17/08 at 02:30:29 PM by Paul Lilly

Enthusiasts looking to piece together a high end system probably don't even have A-Data on their radar, a company best known for offering budget priced modules designed for general purpose computing. Perhaps looking to make new friends among overclocking circles, A-Data this week launched its XPG DDR3-2133X v2.0 memory in both dual- and tri-channel form.

As a tri-channel kit, DDR3-2133 ranks as the highest frequency currently available. Even more impressive, it's available in both 3GB (3x1GB) and 6GB (3x2GB) configurations, not just 3GB. It looks as though some concessions have to be made in order to reach 2133MHz in tri-channel form, as both kits run comparatively loose at 10-10-10-30 and require between 2.05V - 2.15V.

In order to accommodate the high voltage requirement, the new kit comes with a dual-fan heatsink for active cooling. The dual-fan cooler also adds a touch of bling with a pair of blue LEDs.

No word yet on price or availability.

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Posted 11/05/08 at 01:10:05 PM by Paul Lilly

Memory module makers continue to suffer through what some analysts suggest is the worst the DRAM market has been in 15 years with chip manufacturers posting record high losses. To stop the bleeding, most module makers have already cut production in an attempt to drive prices back up, and while that has been met with some success in niche markets (DDR prices are up 30 percent), slumping demand paints a grim outlook for memory makers in the immediate future.

The solution? Send home your workforce without laying them off. That's essentially the strategy some Tawain DRAM and memory module makers are trying to take in an attempt to reduce operating costs, according to DigiTimes. Rather than hand out pink slips, the tech news outlet reports that chip makers are asking employees to take time off without pay.

This isn't an isolated scenario, either. DigiTimes claims that Nanya Technology, Powerchip Semiconducter Corporation (PSC), and ProMOS Technologies have all taken "measures to encourage employees to voluntarily take one work-day off per week without pay in order to help the companies reduce operating costs."

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