EXHIBIT 5.1

 
                                 June 5, 1997

Rambus Inc.
2465 Latham Street
Mountain View, California  94040

     RE:  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") to be filed by Rambus Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"
or "you"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about June 6,
1997, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of an aggregate of 3,412,340 shares of your Common Stock, $.001 par
value (the "Shares"), outstanding or reserved for issuance pursuant to the 1990
Stock Plan, 1997 Stock Plan and 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plans").
As your legal counsel, we have reviewed the actions proposed to be taken by you
in connection with the proposed sale and issuance of the Shares by the
Registrant under the Plans. We assume that the consideration received by you in
connection with each issuance of Shares will include an amount in the form of
cash, services rendered or property that exceeds the greater of (i) the
aggregate par value of such Shares or (ii) the portion of such consideration
determined by the Company's Board of Directors to be "capital" for purposes of
the Delaware General Corporation Law.

     It is our opinion that, upon completion of the proceedings being taken, or
contemplated by us, as your counsel, to be taken prior to the issuance of the
Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement and the Plans, including the
proceedings being taken in order to permit such transaction to be carried out in
accordance with applicable state securities laws, the Shares, when issued and
sold in the manner described in the Registration Statement and in accordance
with the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, will be
legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

                              Very truly yours,
                              
                              /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
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                              WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                              Professional Corporation