Intel Reclaims Speed Lead, But AMD Hopes To Leapfrog
By MARK BOSLET
Dow Jones Newswires
(This story was originally published late Monday.)
SAN JOSE, Calif., -- Intel Corp. (INTC) boasted Monday that it has regained the speed mantle in the desktop computer market from rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD).
The chip maker unveiled a 733 MHz Pentium III as one of 15 new chips using an advanced production technique that lays out circuits at 0.18 microns, or less than 1/500 the thickness of a human hair.
Intel's Paul Otellini, executive vice president and general manager, claimed the chip was currently the fastest in the market. He also said the entire line of new Pentium IIIs, originally code named Coppermine, was priced low enough to enable rapid adoption by computer makers.
Computer makers such as Hewlett-Packard Co. (HWP) and Dell Computer Corp. (DELL) quickly announced new machines incorporating the chips.
But Intel's lead in the desktop speed race may be shortlived. AMD spokesman Scott Allen said AMD plans to introduce a 750 MHz chip in the first quarter of next year. In the fourth quarter of 2000, AMD plans to have a chip running at 1 gigahertz, or about 1,000 megahertz, he said.
AMD also said it will begin using 0.18-micron production techniques early next week at its Fab 25 plant in Austin, Texas, giving a boost to its efforts.
The lead is likely to change hands repeatedly during the next four to six quarters, said Allen, whose company's top-of-the-line chip now runs at 700 MHz. Intel has not had consistent competition like this, and "we're excited," he said.
Intel also isn't sitting still. Otellini said his company has its sights on 800 MHz and 1 gigahertz chips, but declined to estimate introduction dates.
- Mark Boslet, Dow Jones Newswires, 650 496-1366 |
