Intel to Start Selling 12 New Laptop-Computer Chips Tomorrow
09/30 15:04 By Cesca Antonelli
quote.bloomberg.com
Santa Clara, California, Sept. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Intel Corp. will start selling 12 new laptop-computer chips tomorrow, as the biggest semiconductor maker tries to trump rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices Inc. with faster, power-saving products.
The chips include a 1.2-gigahertz mobile Pentium III and several low-power models that run slower. Many of the new processors are based on a fresh manufacturing method that builds thinner wires and helps make smaller, speedier chips.
The notebook computer market has split into several segments as manufacturers try to differentiate with machines that are sleek and light, or heavier and more powerful, or a balance of both. That led Santa Clara, California-based Intel to create more subcategories for its processors.
``These categories of systems will become increasingly popular to people,'' said Frank Spindler, who heads Intel's laptop efforts. ``No matter what size system people have, they want as high-performance a system as can be delivered.''
The 1.2GHz mobile Pentium III sells for $722 each in volume shipments. For lower-power systems, there are two new models of an 800-megahertz chip for $316, plus 750MHz and 733MHz parts at $241. A 700MHz chip for ultra-low power machines costs $209.
Intel also added six inexpensive Celeron processors, running at 933MHz, 900MHz, 866MHZ, 800MHz, 733MHz and a low-power 650MHz model. These sell for as little as $75.
The company introduced two new versions of the chipset that helps a processor communicate with the rest of a computer. The new chipsets have integrated graphics features.
Advanced Micro Devices introduced a 1.1GHz laptop chip in August. Transmeta Corp., a start-up chipmaker trying to compete with Intel, has an 800MHz model.
Intel shares fell 11 cents to $20.44 on Friday. They've lost 32 percent of their value this year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index has fallen 21 percent. |
