| September 4, 1998 |
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By Mark Hachman
September 3, 1998
Electronic Buyers' News
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National Semiconductor Corp.'s Cyrix
Corp. subsidiary here will move to block IBM
Microelectronics Inc. from selling its Cyrix-designed
microprocessors on the merchant market as early as the
first quarter of 1999, said sources close to both
companies. However, National's manufacturing
relationship with IBM will remain in place, sources said.
To date, the 686MX and MII microprocessors designed by
Cyrix subsidiary are manufactured by Fishkill, N.Y.-based
IBM on a foundry basis, with IBM keeping half of the
finished wafers in payment.
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September 3, 1998
The Register
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IBM Microelectronics has formally denied
it is to exit the processor market after first
NatSemi-Cyrix and then AMD disclosed details of their
future plans. A representative of the Geneva-based
company in Europe said: "There has been no agreement
made to sever the relationship between Cyrix and IBM.
Nothing has happened."
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By Mark Carroll
September 4, 1998
EE Times
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Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. (SiS)
of Taiwan will begin volume production next month of the
industry's first Pentium II chip set with integrated 3-D
graphics. Intel is not scheduled to launch its similar
product until early next year. Instead of targeting
the ultralow-end market, SiS will offer its SiS620 chip
set as an alternative to Intel's core logic for PCs based
on Pentium II or Mendocino processors. SiS expressed
confidence that its product does not infringe Intel's
intellectual-property rights. Nevertheless, the company
said it is looking to obtain a license for the
technology.
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By Lisa DiCarlo
September 3, 1998
PC Week Online
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Three rival computer makers are plotting
to dull what they see as Intel Corp.'s increasing control
over the design of Windows NT servers. IBM (NYSE:IBM),
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HWP) and Compaq Computer Corp.
(NYSE:CPQ) have jointly and surreptitiously developed an
enhanced PCI specification for servers that may provide
up to a sixfold increase in I/O performance on NT
servers, sources said
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See
Today's Related Stories |
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By Jim Davis
September 3, 1998
C/Net
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Intel, Dell, and others will show off a
high-end server system next week that, on paper, will
match the capabilities of many sophisticated Unix systems
as a part of a collective effort to convince people that
a standardized PC architecture can run corporate
networks. Dell is expected to show how 16 servers
based on Intel's Pentium II Xeon processors and Windows
NT can work together in an extended "clustered"
configuration next week at Comdex Enterprise in San
Francisco, according to industry sources.
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By Mark LaPedus
September 4, 1998
Electronic Buyers' News
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There's good news and bad news for
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and integrated
circuit makers: Analysts say Intel may be one step away
from eliminating the audio-chip business, but it is also
opening the door for a new class of communication-based
chips, modules, and other products for the PC. Hoping
to integrate soft modems, digital subscriber line (DSL),
home-networking, and other new communication protocols
into the PC platform, a slew of companies next week will
throw their weight behind the two Intel-developed
specifications that could bring these new features onto
the desktop and mobile platforms by using standard,
low-cost motherboard designs and input/output (I/O)
cards.
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By Craig Matsumoto
September 3, 1998
EE Times
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Intel said it is hoping to ignite
sweeping changes in the PC audio and motherboard
businesses with new hardware specifications to be studied
in depth at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Palm
Springs, Calif., later this month. Initially announced
in July, the audio/modem riser (AMR) card and the mobile
daughtercard (MDC) will combine audio and modem
functions, and will remove from the motherboard the
analog circuitry for both. Santa Clara, Calif.-based
Intel (company profile) will announce completion of the
specifications and begin its promotional push for AMR and
MDC next week.
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September 4, 1998
The Register
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American financial analysts are raising
their earnings estimates for Intel's third quarter to 79
to 80 cent/share because of what they believe is growing
PC demand. With Xeon processors becoming available in the
fourth quarter, the new prediction is for earnings around
$3.14 for the year. It seems that Wall Street does not
throw straw in the air and watch to see which way it
blows. Instead, they look to DRAM - production-free New
Zealand, the traditional dumping ground for South Korean
surpluses.
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Today's Related Stories |
| Today's Related Stories |
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By Michael Kanellos
September 3
C/Net
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As the stock market continues to slide,
rising PC demand is setting the stage for a
stronger-than-expected second half for Intel and other
PC-centric companies. Two analysts, Mark Edelstone of
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover and Ashok Kumar of
Piper Jaffray raised their earnings estimates on Intel
for the third quarter and for the year due to growing PC
demand.
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By Reuters
September 4, 1998
C/Net
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Three of Intel's biggest customers are
challenging the chip giant's influence over a key piece
of technology within the personal computer, according to
reports. Compaq Computer, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM
have created a new design for circuitry that could double
the speed of data movement within a PC, people familiar
with the matter said, the Wall Street Journal reported
today.
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| September 3, 1998 |
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By Mark Hachman
September 3, 1998
Electronic Buyer's News
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National Semiconductor Corp.'s Cyrix
Group will move to block IBM Microelectronics Inc. from
selling its Cyrix-designed microprocessors on the
merchant market as early as the first quarter of 1999,
said sources close to both companies. However,
National's manufacturing relationship with IBM will
remain in place, sources said. To date, the 686MX and M
II microprocessors designed by National's Cyrix
subsidiary are manufactured by Fishkill, N.Y.-based IBM
on a foundry basis, with IBM keeping half of the finished
wafers in payment.
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By Michael Kanellos
September 3, 1998
C/Net
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Gateway chairman Ted Waitt sees at least
one obstacle in the path of greater success for the
low-cost Celeron processor, and oddly enough, it's
Intel--a paradox that highlights the conflicts the chip
giant faces in bringing out a cheap processor that
performs as well as its premium line. Intel announced
new and improved Celeron chips just last week, but must
reconcile this latest rollout with the chip's checkered
past and the current line of Pentium II processors.
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| September 2, 1998 |
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By Lisa DiCarlo
September 2, 1998
PC Week Online
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National Semiconductor Inc.'s Cyrix
subsidiary and IBM Microelectronics are dissolving their
long-standing manufacturing and licensing partnership. The
companies will announce, perhaps within the next month,
that National Semi will take over all Cyrix chip
manufacturing from IBM, sources said. In addition, they
said, IBM will stop selling its brand of the Cyrix 6X86MX
processor.
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By Michael Kanellos
September 2, 1998
C/Net
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Some relatively small start-ups with big
ambitions are planning chips aimed at taking away
business from Intel, but they face major challenges in
making the transition from design to manufacturing. Two
newcomers, Transmeta and Rise, are working on low-cost,
low-powered chips for desktops and portables. A third,
Metaflow, is planning an Intel clone with parent company
ST Microelectronics.
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September 1, 1998
The Register
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Sources told The Register late today
that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) was considering
suspending its deal with IBM Microelectronics to fab out
its K6 chips. Earlier today, as reported here, AMD
disclosed figures of the wafers made by its fabs,
suggesting that it is close to achieving critical mass on
its processors off its own bat.
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By Alexander Wolfe
September 2, 1998
EE Times
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A first glimpse of the smart-compiler
software technology that will be the linchpin of Intel
Corp.'s IA-64 architecture and its Merced microprocessor
is now available. Hewlett-Packard Co. has authorized the
release of a research compiler called Trimaran, which is
billed as an academic "infrastructure" aimed at
enabling universities to develop compiler technology for
IA-64. HP's broad objective is to seed research that
will result in heavy-hitting IA-64 software. "To
really make the new architecture work, compilers are
key," said Jim Carlson, HP's director of marketing
for IA-64. "Compilers have been crucial in RISC. But
as we move into the Epic (Explicitly Parallel Instruction
Computing) architecture, compilers become 10 times more
important. Four or five years in the future, this will
really pay off."
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By Anthony Cataldo
September 1, 1998
EE Times
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National Semiconductor's Cyrix processor
division this year will roll out a reduced-voltage
version of its MediaGX processor aimed at mini-notebook
computers. Japan's Casio Computer Co. Ltd. will be one of
the first to employ the processor in its A5 line of
notebooks, scheduled to hit shelves here later this year,
the companies announced here Tuesday. The Casio
notebook, which will compete with Toshiba's Libretto and
NEC's Mobio, represents the first Japanese PC company to
incorporate the MediaGX, a National spokesman said.
Earlier this year in the United States, Compaq announced
a sub-$2,000 notebook with an earlier version of the
MediaGX with MMX technology.
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By Reuters
August 31, 1998
C/Net
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The world's first commercial computer
chips wired with copper instead of aluminum will begin
shipping tomorrow, according to IBM, which plans to
market the faster, more efficient chips for use in a wide
range of computers and consumer electronics. The
world's largest computer maker said it would begin
shipping its first copper-based microprocessors,
including a PowerPC 740/750 model operating at 400 MHz.
The chips are designed for use in both desktop and mobile
computers.
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| September 1, 1998 |
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September 1, 1998
The Register
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AMD has responded to accusations it
cannot produce enough K6-2s by delivering comprehensive
figures which it claims vindicates its stance. A
source close to AMD gave facts and figures showing how
many wafers it had made and chips it had shipped.
According to the source, close to senior AMD
executives in the US, in the second quarter of 1998 it
produced 2.67 million K6 parts.
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By Reuters
August 31, 1998
C/Net
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Intel co-founder Gordon Moore said today
that all major computer systems should be able to cope
with the millennium, but problems could arise with
non-mainstream systems. "There are millions of
micro controllers out there," he told reporters in
Vienna. "It is likely that all major systems will be
fine. My fear is for controllers with code written by
companies that don't exist any more."
Moore, chairman emeritus of Intel since 1997, was
speaking in Vienna where he was attending an
international computer congress.
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| August 31, 1998 |
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August 27, 1998
The Register
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AMD has warned that it may not be able
to supply enough of its 350MHz K6-2 parts. The company
formally announced the chip today and priced it at
$317/1000.
But in a statement which a source close to AMD
described as "frighteningly specific", the
company gave warnings about both production and
distribution of the part.
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August 28, 1998
The Register
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Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has denied
that the story which appeared in yesterday's issue of The
Register is true. We reported yesterday that there
were additional cautionary statements in a press release
about its K6-2 350MHx part which went beyond the usual
sort of statements in such a release.
Frenzied phone calls from AMD today tried to kill our
story. But the chip company, so far, has failed to
provide evidence that it can produce enough chips for the
market.
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By Lisa DiCarlo
August 28,1 998
PC Week Online
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Several advanced technologies under
development at Intel Corp. are shaping up to make next
year's desktops seem like distant cousins of today's PCs. At
its Developer Forum next month, Intel (INTC) will discuss
complete system redesigns in 1999 based on its 450MHz
Katmai processor and Katmai New Instructions, which will
improve three-dimensional and floating-point-intensive
applications such as spreadsheets and object-oriented
databases.
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By Mark LaPedus
August 28, 1998
Electronic Buyer's News
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While Intel Corp. lurks behind the
scenes for a change, a group of leading notebook PC
makers have banded together to support a new PCI-based
bus standard in portable designs. Compaq, Dell, NEC,
Toshiba, and others have announced a so-called Mini PCI
specification, a proposed standard that potentially
eliminates proprietary daughter-card solutions in mobile
platforms.
Intel, the developer and major proponent of the PCI
bus standard, is not one of the driving forces behind
Mini PCI but insisted it was in favor of the
specification in spite of reports to the contrary.
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August 31, 1998
U-Geek
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Intel is planning to charge more in 1999
for chipsets that support the ISA bus than for chipsets
that do not support the ISA architecture. This move will
push the industry to keep ISA out of new PCs. Intel is
hoping to eliminate ISA from new PCs by the year 2000. ISA
is mainly used today for sound cards and modems. Intel is
planning to get the industry to move sound and modem
functions to AMR cards that they will detail in
September. Apparently, the cards will work with Intel
chipsets to use Intel processors to do most of the grunt
work in processing sound and modem functions.
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By Margaret Quan
August 30, 1998
EE Times
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The performance boundaries between
microprocessors aimed at the low and high ends of the PC
market continue to blur, with Intel introducing faster
models of its Celeron and Pentium II processors, and
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) rolling out a souped-up
version of the K6-2. But analysts said the companies'
strategies for the chips signal marketing considerations
may count more than raw performance in determining how
new processors are positioned and priced.
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