Huge shortages, technical problems hit Intel Coppermine debut
NECX, who was advertising i820 MBs when it was supposed to come out, isn't even advertising ANY Coppermines.
"Intel also pulled the plug on its "early access" plan for distributors and dealers, under which they can buy up to three new processors ahead of launch. In this case, the Pentium III 733s, 700s, 667s, 650s, 600EBs, 600Es, and 533s in the SECC2 package were all affected."
This may Intel's biggest launch ever, but it is also the most flawed...
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Huge shortages, technical problems hit Intel Coppermine debut
Internal Intel documents have revealed a massive shortage of Coppermine parts, just a day after Chipzilla beat its chest to the world's press, and bellowed: "Look how well I've done".
The mobile Pentium III is in particularly short supply, with distributors and dealers being told that boxed units are now unlikely to arrive in volume until Q1 of 2000, with availability still very limited in Q4.
A letter we have seen said: "Currently there is a limited supply of mobile Pentium III processors. Initial orders of mobile Pentium III processors on 0.18 micron technology were higher than forecasted. Intel expects to have ample capacity in 1H'00. Owing to this situation, Intel is planning to introduce the boxed mobile Pentium III processor in Q1'00."
But it's not just mobile Coppermines that are in short supply. The S370 500E and 550E processors are also unavailable, meaning that Intel has pulled the plug on all of its marketing plans for these products.
The problem here is with validation of the fan heatsink, according to documents we have seen. It means that the S370 Pentium IIIs may now well be delayed until the beginning of December, or later.
Intel also pulled the plug on its "early access" plan for distributors and dealers, under which they can buy up to three new processors ahead of launch. In this case, the Pentium III 733s, 700s, 667s, 650s, 600EBs, 600Es, and 533s in the SECC2 package were all affected.
The move is a further grave embarrassment for Intel in the wake of the i820 Caminogate debacle, and prompts the question of whether Intel really was ready to ship product, or whether it was just a marchitectural move to try to scupper AMD's successful intro of the Athlonium.
At the Intel Developer Forum in September, CEO Craig Barrett said that he had ordered his staff to produce Coppermines and 7xx chips early. ©
theregister.co.uk
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