Alliance Memory quality?

[blueskull]

Hi, is there anyone who has used Alliance Memory's chips before? They are listed on DigiKey for a part I want (512MB DDR3L in x16 configuration, single die) which big players like Micron's is not in stock.
I am facing choices between either get the Micron one from eBay, or get the Alliance one from DigiKey. I cannot order in bulk. This is a small batch project. I will only be building a few of them.
Price is not a factor. I'm developing on a high end audio player which belongs to $1000 price bracket, I don't care about $5 saved from a RAM chip, but I want a chip to not fail, at least not before other parts.
Any ideas?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272289676365
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/alliance-memory-inc/AS4C256M16D3LA-12BCN/1450-1381-ND/6569878

[daqq]

We have some experience with Alliance memory ICs, but not the big DDR ones, just simple small-ish SRAMs. They work well, no SRAM memory related problems so far. That said, the device that uses them is not a particularly fast system, but it does go into a wide range of temperature environments.

[nctnico]

For DDR memory I'd stick to Micron. They set the industry standards because everyone tests with Micron chips. Isn't there an alternative from Micron you can use?

[Monkeh]

I imagine it'll work just fine.

[Scrts]

I've used ISSI mobile DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 - all worked great with Xilinx and Altera FPGAs.

http://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=IS43TR81280

[Benta]

Company I used to work for sold Alliance parts. Never a complaint, never a return. They're fine.

[amyk]

Alliance has been around for a while. They were one of the brands that were commonly faked on motherboards in the early 90s, so definitely not some no-name.

[aylons]

They also promise 10 years supply for their part numbers, which can be great and prevent a lot of headaches, specially if you manufacture small batches now and then for the same product.

For example, I had a part number from Micron discontinued, and the substitute from Micron was later discontinued with no suggestion of a completely compatible chip. In the end, there was indeed a compatible alternative from Micron itself (even though the page for the discontinued part pointed to an incompatible one), but I was assured by Alliance that I could order their compatible part for 10 years, no need to scramble and recheck everything every other year.

[Benta]

They also promise 10 years supply for their part numbers, which can be great and prevent a lot of headaches, specially if you manufacture small batches now and then for the same product.

Very good point, aylons.

Both Alliance and ISSI have the strategy of serving long-time markets like industrial/medical etc.

Micron (and the far east manufacturers) are very problematic on this point, as their main markets are computing and mobile, where short product cycles are typical.

[aylons]

Both Alliance and ISSI have the strategy of serving long-time markets like industrial/medical etc.

At the risk of sounding like I shill, I should also mention that they offer industrial and medical versions of several products. These versions supposedly are more robust, have an extended temperature range, and come with reliability reports, which may be necessary in medical fields.

After being burned more than once, I've learned to be extra careful when using parts that are geared towards consumer applications.

I can't attest the quality of their ICs without running a controlled test, but surely they are not a fly-by-night operation, if this is the concern.

EDIT:

Just now I noticed this part of the first post:

I am facing choices between either get the Micron one from eBay, or get the Alliance one from DigiKey.

I'd suggest buying the Alliance from Digikey. God knows where this eBay batch comes from.

[Scrts]

They also promise 10 years supply for their part numbers, which can be great and prevent a lot of headaches, specially if you manufacture small batches now and then for the same product.

Very good point, aylons.

Both Alliance and ISSI have the strategy of serving long-time markets like industrial/medical etc.

Micron (and the far east manufacturers) are very problematic on this point, as their main markets are computing and mobile, where short product cycles are typical.

Exactly. We've dumped Micron because of their no long-term support. Now you can only get their older parts on eBay

[aylons]

For those who have used Alliance memory chips, are they 100% compatible with Micron chips?

DDR timing is standardized, even between different part numbers from different manufacturers. Also, Alliance even has equivalence table between their PNs and Micron PNs - you should be fine.

[tszaboo]

They also promise 10 years supply for their part numbers, which can be great and prevent a lot of headaches, specially if you manufacture small batches now and then for the same product.

Very good point, aylons.

Both Alliance and ISSI have the strategy of serving long-time markets like industrial/medical etc.

Micron (and the far east manufacturers) are very problematic on this point, as their main markets are computing and mobile, where short product cycles are typical.

AFAIK Alliance just purchases old equipment from bigger manufacturers and keeps it running. Samsung and Toshiba does not care about DDR or DDR2 memory anymore, because it is a small market. So alliance snatches the machines, turn down the light bulbs a bit, and keep them going. Since a lot of embedded system uses these, they can work with bigger margin, lower quantity, smaller advertising and management.
I would select ISSI or Alliance for my design any day.

[meeko]

AFAIK Alliance just purchases old equipment from bigger manufacturers and keeps it running. Samsung and Toshiba does not care about DDR or DDR2 memory anymore, because it is a small market. So alliance snatches the machines, turn down the light bulbs a bit, and keep them going. Since a lot of embedded system uses these, they can work with bigger margin, lower quantity, smaller advertising and management.
I would select ISSI or Alliance for my design any day.

Yes, one time I was looking at DDR2 RAM, pulled up the datasheet for an Alliance chip, and it was the old Micron datasheet, with a note added that the line had been bought by Alliance.

[amyk]

Alliance is not very recognized among PC hardware fans.

Maybe not today, but ~20-25 years ago they were, along with ISSI...

http://mail.lipsia.de/%7Eenigma/neu/pics/386eteq.jpg
http://mail.lipsia.de/~enigma/neu/pics/mainboard_486_sis_85c461.jpg
http://mail.lipsia.de/%7Eenigma/neu/pics/486vch.jpg

Those parts are still available, new:
http://www.digikey.com/products/en?mpart=AS7C256B-15PIN&v=1450
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/ISSI/IS61C256AL-12JLI-TR/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMt9mBA6nIyysID5vUl1PmfWj4ELhMm6GDA%3d