Intel to Unveil 820 Chipset in 2 Weeks, Barrett Says
Seoul, Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Intel Corp., the world's largest computer chipmaker, said it will unveil its delayed 820 chipset in the next two weeks, a move that will help producers of memory chips that use Rambus Inc. technology.
''We plan to introduce the 820 in the next couple of weeks,'' Intel Chief Executive Craig Barrett told reporters after attending the opening of an Internet training center in Seoul.
A chipset is a collection of semiconductors that work in conjunction with a computer's microprocessor to enable it to talk with the main memory and other devices.
The delay in releasing the 820, which is designed for personal computers, along with delays of other new processors and chipsets has hurt shares of Intel and Rambus and slowed production at memory chipmakers such as Korea's Samsung Electronics Co.
Intel already unveiled its 840 chipset designed to enable workstations and servers to use Rambus technology, which speeds the flow of information from computer memory, improving the machine's performance.
Rambus, a US chip designer, gets fees from memory chipmakers when they sell products that use its technology.
Intel's third-quarter net income fell 6.5 percent as its chip sales lagged some forecasts because of lower prices and delays in getting out its higher-priced Pentium microprocessors.
Barrett said Intel plans to continue enhancing its top-of- the line Coppermine processor, which uses the same micro architecture as the current Pentium III models, only until the first half of next year, when it will be capable of processing speeds of up to 800 megahertz.
In the second half of 2000 Intel plans to use an entirely new architecture design to develop a microprocessor capable of speeds of 1 gigahertz.
The speed of the processor, measured in hertz, determines how fast the computer can perform basic calculations, which direct all other functions, and ultimately determines its performance. Intel's fastest processor now runs at 733 megahertz.
Barrett said he was ''surprised'' at recent lawsuits such as one aimed at Toshiba Corp. The Toshiba suit, which alleged that the computer maker had sold personal computers with defective floppy disk controllers, led to the Japanese company's decision last week to take a $1 billion charge against earnings.
''I am surprised firstly at the lawsuit and secondly at the settlement,'' said Barrett. ''In my understanding no one was harmed and no one was damaged by any corruption of data or any other problems.''
Shares of Santa Clara, California-based Intel rose 1 1/2 to 77 1/2 yesterday. Rambus shares rose 1/8 to $66 1/2.
Nov/03/1999 5:34
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