Intel Investors - Serious Threats to Intel by Cyrix, AMD and IBM
Note - no products or delivery dates are stated.
I guess that makes these threats REALLY SERIOUS !
Paul
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zdnet.com
Intel feeling the heat
National Semi, IBM forging alternative chip paths
for users
By Lisa DiCarlo, PC Week Online
September 7, 1998
Competitors both large and small, in
desktops and servers, are putting
increasing pressure on Intel Corp. with
alternative processor plans.
In addition to Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Intel's longtime rival
in mainstream desktop processors, National Semiconductor
Corp. and IBM Microelectronics are renewing efforts to give
corporate users new chips to consider.
National Semi, for example, is developing a range of integrated
processors for entry-level PCs, thin clients, single-function
devices and portables.
The Santa Clara, Calif., company's plan, according to officials,
is to replace its existing MII processor, developed by its Cyrix
Corp. subsidiary, with the MXi for sub-$1,500 PCs. That
platform promises to have better floating-point performance,
resolving a long-standing issue with Cyrix processors.
National Semi will also attempt to reach several customer
segments with the PC-on-a-chip line, the first of which is due in
the first half of 1999. Different versions will target set-top boxes,
embedded applications and other non-PC devices.
National Semi's forthcoming MediaGX processors will be used
in Windows-based terminals from Wyse Technology Inc. and
Boundless Technologies Inc. In fact, National Semi is migrating
a large chunk of its own users to thin clients that will eventually
be based on its own microprocessor technology.
"We're interested in price/performance, so we buy [some]
non-Intel-based PCs," said Harold Siewert, IS director at
Pacific Health Corp., in Long Beach, Calif., which has about
1,000 users. "Loyalty [to Intel] can't run our applications
cheaper or faster."
In addition, National Semi, with its Cyrix subsidiary, which is
based in Richardson, Texas, is dissolving its manufacturing
and licensing partnership with IBM Microelectronics, which will
stop selling its version of the Cyrix 6x86MX.
Instead, IBM is planning to develop its own X86-compatible
"system-on-a-chip" processors, possibly based on cores from
Shenzhen STS Microelectronics, located in Shenzhen, China,
sources said.
IBM may announce its strategy in the fourth quarter. The
Somers, N.Y., company will leverage process advancements in
transistors and interconnects, such as copper and
silicon-on-insulator, to push the performance envelope.
"It's not just an Intel market anymore," said Linley Gwennap,
editorial director of The Microprocessor Report, in Sebastopol,
Calif.
Intel competition mounting
IBM
Building integrated X86 processors for entry-level
desktops and other devices
Building copper-based PowerPC for high-end and
embedded applications
AMD
Developing K7, due in 1999, that has the 21264 Alpha
bus
May license Alpha from Compaq Computer Corp. and
release own branded 64-bit Alpha chip
Sun Microelectronics
Offers 64-bit processors for high-end servers,
uniprocessor systems and embedded apps
National Semiconductor
Developing system-on-a-chip for entry-level desktops and
thin clients
Working on third-generation MediaGX chips
Rise and IDT
Small companies, each building X86 chips for low-end
desktops |
