14 DAY TRIAL // Advanced Micro Devices makes CPUs and video cards but, now, it has memory as well, even though it isn't really its own, so to speak.
The Sunnyvale, California-based company revealed that consumers will be able to find AMD-branded memory modules and kits for desktop PCs from now on.
This is probably the chip maker's attempt at expanding its product portfolio to other fields, the same way Intel went on the SSD track and NVIDIA in the ARM SoC direction.
AMD isn't making the RAM on its own, though, but with help from Patriot Memory and VisionTek.
In other words, it is doing what Intel did when it partnered with Micron for making SSD Flash memory.
“AMD has been supplying and validating memory for AMD Radeon(TM) graphics cards for several years,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD GPU Division.
“Based on this experience, adding system memory to our product line was a clear opportunity for us. This move provides our partners and end-users with a trusted brand synonymous with quality -- we can help ensure performance and reliability with AMD Memory.”
There will be 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB memory modules, with various frequencies and prices.
The Entertainment category (for Home Theater PC applications) will be of 1,333 MHz to 1,600 MHz, while the Performance line will be of 1,600 MHz to 1,866 MHz and will be sold in matched pairs.
There is a third collection of memory products, the Radeon Edition, which has a clock speed of 1,866 MHz and was tested and certified for specific platforms. It should be competitively priced, according to AMD. Advanced Micro Devices made use of the OverDrive optimization tool to make sure the AMD Memory-branded DRAM works as well as possible in conjunction with its APUs, CPUs, GPUs and chipsets.
RAM, in general, still isn't very expensive, so this might be quite an opportune moment for AMD Memory, since affordability won't be an issue.