FB-DIMMs slow down Intel Bensley servers

BENSLEY WAS DELAYED not due to any problems with the platform itself, that was done months ago, but due to FB-DIMMs.

Yes, those pesky FBDs are late, hot, and in short supply, so several big box slingers, let's call them collectively by the made up name "Dell", asked Intel to delay until the memory was ready. Fast forward a few months, and the situation is little better, and the outlook is not all that bright.

The problem is a chicken and egg problem. Mobo vendors won't make parts unless OEMs order them. OEMs won't order them unless there is memory available to purchase also. Customers won't buy chips unless there are mobos and memory. It all feeds on itself and becomes a giant hairy mess in short order with everyone pointing the finger at the other guy.

The problem is that until this mess clears itself up and FBDs flow like water, Intel won't sell very many server chips. So, Intel has taken the logical step of assuring supply if you buy chips, that is assuming that you don't have a Dell-esque supply chain.

What it's doing is working with memory vendors, four at the last count, to buy up supply and bundle them with Dempsey CPUs, if they ever come out, and presumably Woodcrests when the time is right. That way if a person places an order for a lot of mobos, and Intel says that there are CPUs available, there will also be RAM. How nice of Intel.

There was no word on what it takes to buy into this programme, or what the cost of parts will be, but one can assume that if Intel wants to sell chips, it won't gouge you on the RAM. This program seems to be the right thing to do in a chicken and egg situation like the one Intel is in, so it will probably go over well with buyers. µ