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Technology Stocks : Cymer (CYMI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steven Angelil who wrote (7540)	10/31/1997 1:28:00 PM
From: TideGlider	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25960

Steve: Disgusting thought.

To: Steven Angelil who wrote (7540)	10/31/1997 1:31:00 PM
From: Paul Dieterich	Respond to of 25960

Samsung puts the .25 micron squeeze on Intel, with .18 (!) not far behind: Samsung Breaks Chip Speed Record: 700-MHz (10/30/97; 8:00 p.m. EST) By Jack Robertson, Electronic Buyers' News Just days after it agreed to take charge of Digital Equipment's Alpha microprocessor, Intel already has a fight on its hands. Samsung Semiconductor, which has a license from Digital to make Alpha designs, has unveiled a speedy new version of the chip that runs at 700 MHz. Samsung is now shipping samples of the device and has vowed to be the first to begin mass production early next year. Samsung's chip will be twice as fast as other Alpha versions and will be on the market six months to a year before Intel can begin manufacturing Alpha, said Y. J. Park, senior group Alpha manager for Samsung Electronics America, in San Jose, Calif. Intel agreed earlier this week to buy Digital's semiconductor plant for $700 million, a deal designed to settle a legal dispute between the two companies over Alpha patents. The plant is scheduled to start manufacturing a new Alpha chip next spring using a 0.35 micron process. Samsung says it will make the chip with a 0.25 micron process, dramatically improving its performance. The processor is primarily used in computer workstations, but Samsung is also developing a low-end Alpha for desktop machines. "This should double the performance over the present 533-MHz version," Park said. The Alpha race could have an impact on Samsung's hopes to build up its microprocessor business base, if it can gain a lead on Intel while it is busy taking over the Digital fab in Hudson, Mass. Intel will re-tool the Digital fab with 0.25 micron equipment, once the U.S. government approves the deal, said Craig Barrett, Intel's president. However that could take three to six months, and Samsung's Park estimates it will take Intel at least another six months to revamp and qualify the fab for 0.25-micron processing. And Park said Samsung plans to keep well ahead of Intel by moving as fast as possible to a 0.18-micron process that will provide even faster chips. Samsung now makes an earlier generation Alpha chip at a development fab in Korea, but the plant is expected to produce only 4,000 chips this year. The company has not been able to keep up with orders from some 25 customers, who have now been put on allocation. However with other fabs due to come on line soon, Samsung expects to produce as many as 100,000 chips next year, Park said.