Chinese PC firm hit by shortages of Intel's mobile MPUs
EE Times
(04/18/2005 6:10 PM EDT)
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Intel Corp. reportedly continues to experience shortages for its mobile microprocessor line, especially in Asia.
For example, China's Tsinghua Unisplendour Corp. Ltd. has moved to develop notebook PCs based on microprocessors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) due to a shortage of competitive chips from rival Intel Corp., according to a report from SinoCast, a Chinese Web site.
Huang Zhong, general manager of the notebook division for Tsinghua Unisplendour (Beijing), was quoted in the report as saying that the Chinese PC company has been saddled with shortages of processors for notebook PCs since last November.
Tsinghua Unisplendour specializes in information technology and communications in China. It was initially established by Tsinghua University in 1988.
The shortages involve Intel's Dothan processors. These chips have been in short supply for months, according to the reports.
"Intel sources said that the situation could be allayed by the end of April," according to the report. "Intel explains that as it is upgrading its CPU and adjusting the production lines, the production capacity for some products can't meet the demand, and it has cut back the supply of some products to Asia Pacific region since the end of last year."
Indeed, Intel's Dothan chip remains in short supply in the market as a whole. "With the end of the quarter approaching we can still see a few areas where shortages will persist," according to an e-mail newsletter from independent distributor Fusion Inc. (Andover, Mass.).
"The Dothan supply issues should continue for the next four to six weeks," according to Fusion. "The Dothan is in the midst of a transition from the 400 front-side bus to the newer 533 front-side bus version, so the current conditions should continue until this is completed."
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