Representatives from VIA and leading memory suppliers began working on the specification in mid-January. Since beginning the project, a number of other memory suppliers, module manufacturers, and others have contacted VIA and inquired about how to participate in this effort. As a result, the list of other companies now involved in this effort is expanding rapidly. VIA will be opening up the results of this effort to the entire industry as it evolves. Participating companies have been evaluating and comparing specifications and timing information from various vendors and swapping simulation models.
Current efforts involve checking signal integrity using results from simulation and modeling.
Cross testing of prototype hardware has now started as well. Inc. Today, the majority of PCs operate at memory and system bus speeds of either 66MHz or 100MHz. PC133 is a natural extension of PC100 and should be very cost-effective says Mike Seibert, Strategic Marketing Manager of Micron. The evolutionary transition to PC133 based systems will provide PC manufacturers an effective perfromance boost with which to differentiate mainstream PC offerings in mid-1999. Inc. PC133 coupled with Virtual Channel will be a very exciting product for the PC industry, enabling mainstream and low-cost PCs to achieve levels of performance unprecedented in the PC industry.