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To: Elmer who wrote (113517)	10/14/2000 1:02:37 AM
From: milo_morai	Respond to of 186894

<font color=purple>Intel's 1.13-GHz Pentium III Delayed Again (10/13/00, 7:37 p.m. ET) By Mark Hachman, TechWeb News Intel Corp. is entirely reworking the 1.13-GHz Pentium III chip on its own, delaying the processor until the second quarter of next year. All of Intel's 0.18-micron Pentium III line is undergoing a new core "stepping," or manufacturing revision, according to a product change notification notice sent out by Intel (stock: INTC) and obtained by TechWeb. A second, newer stepping will be used to fabricate the new 1.13-GHz chip, an Intel spokesman said. Such steppings are uncommon, although expected through the course of a chip's life. New steppings are usually used to fix errata in the chips, or allow those chips to run at higher speeds. What is unusual, said industry sources, is that the new steppings are usually planned to prevent an interruption in the steady introduction of faster clock speeds. Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., announced "limited production volumes" of the 1.13-GHz Pentium III in July, in a war of press releases the company has waged with rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (stock: AMD). However, Intel pulled the plug on the 1.13-GHz chip at the end of August after noting an intermittent glitch that could result in data loss. Observers said the delay makes sense, given that Intel had already made what hay it could with the announcement of the chip. "Why bother jumping through hoops with a part that was going to be released in limited availability?" one analyst asked. All of the Pentium III microprocessors from 800-MHz on up will be affected by the so-called "C0" stepping, which has been in circulation for some time now, albeit in sample form. The C0 stepping shrinks the Pentium III's die size by 5 percent, also correcting some latent errata. Intel's plan is to release the new 1.13-GHz chip in a "flip-chip" FC-PGA package only, which will use an entirely new stepping, the Intel spokesman said without elaboration. The chip will still apparently be manufactured upon an 0.18-micron process. A second 1.13-GHz chip, the Coppermine-T, is expected a quarter later, according to sources and other published reports, but will use a finer 0.13-micron process. The delay will also provide a neat segmentation between the Pentium III and Pentium 4. While the Pentium 4 is expected to ramp from 1.4-GHz and 1.5-GHz at its launch Nov. 20 upwards to about 2.0-GHz in the second quarter of next year, OEMs aren't clear on the minimum speed of the Pentium 4 at the time. What this means is that there might be a sizeable gap between a 1.13-GHz Pentium III and a 1.4-GHz Pentium 4, if it still exists. That doesn't bother Intel. "Certainly our focus is the Pentium 4," the Intel spokesman said. "The way I look at is by market segment. Here's a 1.4-GHz for consumer enthusiasts and business power users, and it's the fastest thing since a 1-GHz Pentium III." Before the Pentium 4's launch, AMD, Harrisburg, Pa., will attempt to cut into Intel's lead. The launch of the 1.2-GHz Athlon desktop processor and the 800-MHz Duron are expected soon; according to one unconfirmed source, and the chip is scheduled to be announced before Oct. 30, the day of the original release of the Pentium 4. The chips have shown up on Pricewatch.com and other online retailers for $109 and $519, respectively, on an individual basis; a 1-GHz Athlon now sells for about $300. A spokesman for AMD would say only that the chips are expected "shortly." Related Stories: Glitch Forces Intel To Recall 1.13-MHz MPUs techweb.com

To: Elmer who wrote (113517)	10/14/2000 5:12:09 AM
From: Dan3	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 186894

Re: I think a objective analysis of AMD's fab capacity and Athlon output shows they have yield problems that limit production. I'll grant you that AMD has encountered chipset delays that postponed expansion into new markets. But processor yield problems? Do you have access to pricewatch? Do you think that all those parts at all those speeds are available because AMD is having yield problems? More to the point, it's relatively easy to get high yields of low clock speed parts - but it doesn't make much money. IMHO, the pricing indicates that Intel is yielding lots of midrange and low end parts, but isn't having much luck with high end parts. This is, of course, a binsplit issue rather than a pure yield issue. But recent variations in supply seem to indicate that when Intel targets its process to produce high end parts, yields collapse. Now that Intel has given up on GHZ+ parts and retargeted their process, yields are OK and supply (of midrange and low end parts) is in surplus. But AMD's lineup for the next quarter includes 1GHZ, 1.1GHZ, 1.2GHZ, and "faster" and those low end and midrange chips Intel is finally yielding may not be worth much. Being one speed grade behind is almost a non-issue, but 3 speed grades behind? Maybe P4 will save the day. Will P4 systems loaded with CDRW, DVD, 19" monitor, and a high end video card come in at the $1,500 to $2,500 price range that is what the market is currently willing to pay for a high end machine? Dan