• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Rambus and NVIDIA Sign Patent License Agreement

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
46,283 (7.69/day)
Location
Hyderabad, India
System Name RBMK-1000
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard ASUS ROG Strix B450-E Gaming
Cooling DeepCool Gammax L240 V2
Memory 2x 8GB G.Skill Sniper X
Video Card(s) Palit GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GameRock
Storage Western Digital Black NVMe 512GB
Display(s) BenQ 1440p 60 Hz 27-inch
Case Corsair Carbide 100R
Audio Device(s) ASUS SupremeFX S1220A
Power Supply Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W
Mouse ASUS ROG Strix Impact
Keyboard Gamdias Hermes E2
Software Windows 11 Pro
Rambus Inc., one of the world's premier technology licensing companies, and NVIDIA, the worldwide leader in visual computing, today announced they have signed a patent license agreement related to certain memory controllers.

Under the agreement, Rambus has granted NVIDIA a patent license for certain memory controllers at a 1 percent royalty rate for SDR memory controllers and a 2 percent royalty rate for other memory controllers, including DDR, DDR2, DDR3, LPDDR, LPDDR2, GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, and portions of GDDR5 memory controllers. NVIDIA has granted no licenses to Rambus.

The signed patent license agreement went into effect on August 12, 2010. The parties have not signed any releases of liability, nor dismissed any outstanding litigation between them.

The terms of the license are per the agreement that Rambus offers as part of its commitment with the European Commission. A sample of the Memory Controller License Agreement is available at this page.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 
Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
64 (0.01/day)
System Name B501-YukiHime
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (no OC)
Motherboard MSI B450M Bazooka Plus
Cooling Deepcool Gammaxx L240 V2 AIO, Deepcool RF120M 3-Pack
Memory 32GB (2x 16GB) Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 3200mhz
Video Card(s) MSI Radeon RX 5700 Mech OC (Stock BIOS)
Storage 970 EVO Plus 250GB NVMe, BX500 960GB SATA, 4TB Seagate SATA, 2TB Seagate SATA, 870 EVO 500GB SATA
Display(s) Asus VX279H ; NEC MultiSync EA234WMi
Case Fractal Design Node 804
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z213; SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless
Power Supply Seasonic M12II EVO 750W
Mouse Logitech G604
Keyboard Logitech G710+ (Cherry MX Brown)
Software Windows 10 Pro 64bit v21H1
Hmmm

Does this make Nvidia escaped a very dangerous situation?
 
Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
64 (0.01/day)
System Name B501-YukiHime
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (no OC)
Motherboard MSI B450M Bazooka Plus
Cooling Deepcool Gammaxx L240 V2 AIO, Deepcool RF120M 3-Pack
Memory 32GB (2x 16GB) Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 3200mhz
Video Card(s) MSI Radeon RX 5700 Mech OC (Stock BIOS)
Storage 970 EVO Plus 250GB NVMe, BX500 960GB SATA, 4TB Seagate SATA, 2TB Seagate SATA, 870 EVO 500GB SATA
Display(s) Asus VX279H ; NEC MultiSync EA234WMi
Case Fractal Design Node 804
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z213; SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless
Power Supply Seasonic M12II EVO 750W
Mouse Logitech G604
Keyboard Logitech G710+ (Cherry MX Brown)
Software Windows 10 Pro 64bit v21H1
yep... looks like the EU saved them. Would have been ridiculous if all of that inventory was rendered illegal...

Well, that's good for them... If not, they will be dominated by ATi in the line of Graphics Processor...
 

WarEagleAU

Bird of Prey
Joined
Jul 9, 2006
Messages
10,812 (1.67/day)
Location
Gurley, AL
System Name Pandemic 2020
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 "Gen 2" 2600X
Motherboard AsRock X470 Killer Promontory
Cooling CoolerMaster 240 RGB Master Cooler (Newegg Eggxpert)
Memory 32 GB Geil EVO Portenza DDR4 3200 MHz
Video Card(s) ASUS Radeon RX 580 DirectX 12 DUAL-RX580-O8G 8GB 256-Bit GDDR5 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video C
Storage WD 250 M.2, Corsair P500 M.2, OCZ Trion 500, WD Black 1TB, Assorted others.
Display(s) ASUS MG24UQ Gaming Monitor - 23.6" 4K UHD (3840x2160) , IPS, Adaptive Sync, DisplayWidget
Case Fractal Define R6 C
Audio Device(s) Realtek 5.1 Onboard
Power Supply Corsair RMX 850 Platinum PSU (Newegg Eggxpert)
Mouse Razer Death Adder
Keyboard Corsair K95 Mechanical & Corsair K65 Wired, Wireless, Bluetooth)
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
I am glad to see this come out like this and hopefully Nvidia won't have any judgements against them from the Rambus suit. curious though as to why the hell or even how Rambus has any sort of patent on GDDR memory controllers. Does this mean that ATI did something with them??
 
Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
1,180 (0.21/day)
Location
Australia
Processor Intel i7 4790K
Motherboard Asus Z97 Deluxe
Cooling Thermalright Ultra Extreme 120
Memory Corsair Dominator 1866Mhz 4X4GB
Video Card(s) Asus R290X
Storage Samsung 850 Pro SSD 256GB/Samsung 840 Evo SSD 1TB
Display(s) Samsung S23A950D
Case Corsair 850D
Audio Device(s) Onboard Realtek
Power Supply Corsair AX850
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Logitech G710+
Software Windows 10 x64
I am glad to see this come out like this and hopefully Nvidia won't have any judgements against them from the Rambus suit. curious though as to why the hell or even how Rambus has any sort of patent on GDDR memory controllers. Does this mean that ATI did something with them??

Thats what i was thinking.....maybe ATI is next on the hit list??

These kind of stories come up all the time, its like the computer industry are a bunch of thieves and scam artists lol.
 

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 6, 2004
Messages
58,413 (8.21/day)
Location
Oystralia
System Name Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory 2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s) Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage 2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s) Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) | Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) | Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s) Logitech G560 | Corsair Void pro RGB |Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores Nyooom.
rambus is a big player in the memory market, who do you think makes the XDR memory in the PS3?

basically, they made patents, Nvidia breached em.

Whether ATI has deals with them or just doesnt use their patented designs, i dont know.
 

bear jesus

New Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
1,534 (0.31/day)
Location
Britland
System Name Gaming temp// HTPC
Processor AMD A6 5400k // A4 5300
Motherboard ASRock FM2A75 PRO4// ASRock FM2A55M-DGS
Cooling Xigmatek HDT-D1284 // stock phenom II HSF
Memory 4GB 1600mhz corsair vengeance // 4GB 1600mhz corsair vengeance low profile
Storage 64gb sandisk pulse SSD and 500gb HDD // 500gb HDD
Display(s) acer 22" 1680x1050
Power Supply Seasonic G-450 // Corsair CXM 430W

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder
Joined
Nov 22, 2005
Messages
28,472 (4.25/day)
Location
Indiana, USA
Processor Intel Core i7 10850K@5.2GHz
Motherboard AsRock Z470 Taichi
Cooling Corsair H115i Pro w/ Noctua NF-A14 Fans
Memory 32GB DDR4-3600
Video Card(s) RTX 2070 Super
Storage 500GB SX8200 Pro + 8TB with 1TB SSD Cache
Display(s) Acer Nitro VG280K 4K 28"
Case Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s) Onboard is good enough for me
Power Supply eVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G3
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
I am glad to see this come out like this and hopefully Nvidia won't have any judgements against them from the Rambus suit. curious though as to why the hell or even how Rambus has any sort of patent on GDDR memory controllers. Does this mean that ATI did something with them??

Rambus had some patents related to the memory controllers. When the memory started to become standard in the industry Rambus hid the fact that they held the patents, and then started filing lawsuits against everyone in the industry once the memory was a standard. Some caved and paid royalties right away, and others fought Rambus' shady business practices. And in fact they've been investigated for patent ambushing by the EU, and it was decided that Rambus would not have been able to get the royalties that they are getting if it wasn't for their patent ambush tactics.

Basically, Rambus hasn't come up with anything new technology wise in years, and rely on lawsuits and patent ambushing to make money.:shadedshu
 

the54thvoid

Intoxicated Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Dec 14, 2009
Messages
12,378 (2.37/day)
Location
Glasgow - home of formal profanity
Processor Ryzen 7800X3D
Motherboard MSI MAG Mortar B650 (wifi)
Cooling be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
Memory 32GB Kingston Fury
Video Card(s) Gainward RTX4070ti
Storage Seagate FireCuda 530 M.2 1TB / Samsumg 960 Pro M.2 512Gb
Display(s) LG 32" 165Hz 1440p GSYNC
Case Asus Prime AP201
Audio Device(s) On Board
Power Supply be quiet! Pure POwer M12 850w Gold (ATX3.0)
Software W10
Rambus had some patents related to the memory controllers. When the memory started to become standard in the industry Rambus hid the fact that they held the patents, and then started filing lawsuits against everyone in the industry once the memory was a standard. Some caved and paid royalties right away, and others fought Rambus' shady business practices. And in fact they've been investigated for patent ambushing by the EU, and it was decided that Rambus would not have been able to get the royalties that they are getting if it wasn't for their patent ambush tactics.

Basically, Rambus hasn't come up with anything new technology wise in years, and rely on lawsuits and patent ambushing to make money.:shadedshu

Yeah, i'd read about this too when i'd seen them filing against Nvidia. Especially the bit about not having made anything new recently in terms of the NV infringments.

But on the flipside, NV aren't exactly pure as snow when it comes to it's own dealings (this reference to it's soldering problems on the older chips, 2007-2008) http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10245593-64.html

This is one of the reasons why Apple may have moved to ATI according to some sources.
 
Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
2,318 (0.41/day)
Location
Texas
System Name Mr. Reliable
Processor Ryzen R9 5950x
Motherboard MSI Meg X570s Ace Max
Cooling D5 Pump, Singularity Top/Res, 2x360mm EK P rads, EK Magnitude/Alphacool Blocks
Memory 32Gb (4x8Gb) Corsair Dominator Platinum 3600Mhz @ 16/19/20/36 1.35v
Video Card(s) MSI 3080ti with Alphacool Block
Storage 2 x Corsair Force MP400 1TB Nvme; 2 x T-Force Cardea Z340; 2 x Mushkin Reactor 1TB
Display(s) Acer 32" Z321QU 2560x1440; LG 34GP83A-B 34" 3440x1440
Case Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic XL; Synology DS218j w/ 2 x 2TB WD Red
Audio Device(s) SteelSeries Arctis Pro+
Power Supply EVGA SuperNova 850G3
Mouse Razer Basilisk V2
Keyboard Das Keyboard 6; Razer Orbweaver Chroma
Software Windows 10 Pro
I think all companies try to pull one over on the other guys, if they can get away with it. Rambus is a failing company trying to make money wherever they can. Nvidia jus got caught up in the fallout.
 
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
2,557 (0.48/day)
Location
United States
System Name Aluminum Mallard
Processor Ryzen 1900x
Motherboard AsRock Phantom 6
Cooling AIO
Memory 8GB
Video Card(s) ASUS Strix 1080Ti
Storage SSD
Display(s) Benq Zowie
Case Cosmos 1000
Audio Device(s) On Board
Power Supply Corsair CX750
Software Win10 Home
Benchmark Scores 31 FPS in Dalaran.
Rambus owns the patent to the technology, they are far from failing. Litigation and copyright protections happen between companies all the time. You just hear about it more in the tech industry.
 

PCpraiser100

New Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2008
Messages
1,062 (0.19/day)
System Name REBEL R1
Processor Core i7 920
Motherboard ASUS P6T
Cooling Stock
Memory 6GB OCZ GOLD TC LV Kit 1866MHz@1.65V 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s) Two Sapphire HD 5770 Vapor-X Xfire'd and OC'd (920/1330)
Storage Seagate 7200.11 500GB 32MB
Case Antec Three Hundred
Audio Device(s) ASUS Xonar D1 PCI Sound Card
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 500W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
Benchmark Scores 16585 Performance Score on 3DMark Vantage
I wonder how far this will affect Nvidia's future product line?
 
Top