Don't know if this was already posted. Dell allegedly shipped its first 1GHz systems Thurs night.
news.cnet.com.
Intel to release 850-MHz, 866-MHz amid shortage
By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
March 17, 2000, 4:50 p.m. PT
Intel will come out with new Pentium IIIs on Monday, amid a lingering shortage of high-end processors.
The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaking giant will announce 850-MHz and 866-MHz Pentium III processors for desktops on Monday, according to sources close to the company. The chips follow the recent, accelerated introduction of a Pentium III running at 1GHz. Price cuts are not expected on the rest of the Pentium III processors as yet. Intel last cut Pentium III prices at the end of February.
While computer enthusiasts typically welcome the introduction of new processors, the tight supply of the faster Pentium IIIs continues to be a source of irritation for manufacturers and dealers who incorporate Intel processors into their computers. Dealers have been particularly hard hit because the bulk of the fast chips have been going to large manufacturers like Dell.
The 800-MHz Pentium III, which was announced in December, remains relatively difficult to find, according to dealers. The 1-GHz Pentium III is also fairly elusive. Intel announced the chip on March 8. Dell, often the company that gets new Intel parts to market first, shipped its first 1-GHz computers last night, according to a spokesman.
Considering the current situation, finding the new chips will not likely be an easy task. Still, supplies have improved for Pentium IIIs running at 750 Mhz and below.
Several high-level Intel executives predicted in February that the supply situation would stabilize by the end of the quarter, which concludes in two weeks. Some dealers, however, said distributors and brokers have informed them that the shortage could continue.
The shortage arises from delays last year in the release of the latest Pentium IIIs and an acceleration of the product road map. Last October, Intel released the "Coppermine" generation of Pentium IIIs before historically normal inventories of the chip existed, said Intel and several analysts. A shortage became apparent almost immediately.
Simultaneously, rival Advanced Micro Devices was finding increasing commercial success with its Athlon processor. The two companies soon began a speed race. Both Intel and AMD, for instance, originally planned to release their 1-GHz chips toward the middle of the year. Intel moved up the release to March. AMD followed suit, releasing its chip two days before Intel.
In addition, some PC executives and analysts have stated that the typical first quarter seasonal slowdown wasn't as bad as usual.
AMD also has been hit with sporadic parts shortages, but not to the same degree.
Servers have also been in high demand. "Everyone is trying to get their site on line," said one PC manufacturer. |
