Chip designer Rambus Inc. said Intel Corp. has begun testing devices that use Direct Rambus technology, which is capable of increasing memory chip speed. Engineering testing is underway on Direct Rambus DRAM devices produced by Toshiba Corp. and LG Semicon, Rambus said.

In addition, Rambus said PC makers Dell Computer Corp. and Compaq Computer Corp. confirmed they planned to ship PCs using Direct Rambus technology for main memory in 1999. More than 50 companies are committed to delivering Direct Rambus technology within their products, including DRAM manufacturers representing the suppliers to more than 96% of the global DRAM market, Rambus said.

((c) Reuters)