x86 Monthly News

Collected By Robert R. Collins

March 1998

Older News

Headlines March 31, 1998
Counterfeit Intel chips may be rising By Michael Kanellos March 30, 1998 C/Net	An imbalance between the price and supply of Intel microprocessors is leading to a rise in "remarked" chips with bogus speed ratings in Europe and North America. Computer makers in the United States claim that there have been recent instances of chips sold as 200-MHz Pentium Pro processors were in fact 166-MHz Pentium Pros that had been repackaged and renumbered by unscrupulous chip brokers to look like their 200-MHz counterparts. The German magazine c't has reported on a rash of 266-MHz Pentium II chips being sold as 300-MHz versions in Germany.
Pokey Celeron Disappoints By Staff Writer March 30, 1998 PC World	INTEL'S NEW CELERON CHIP, the low-end processor aimed at the sub-$1000 PC market, has failed to live up to even modest expectations in our PC WorldBench testing. In this exclusive report from our upcoming May issue, a 266-MHz Celeron test system performed significantly poorer on business applications than similarly configured systems from AMD and Cyrix.
Intel's Celeron-266: Great Price, But Weak Performance By Bill Snyder March 30, 1998 PC World	You've probably noticed the proliferation of astonishingly cheap yet capable PCs. But have you also noticed that a surprising number of these sub-$1000 systems don't sport the "Intel Inside" logo? Intel hopes that will change beginning April 15, when the company introduces the Celeron, a stripped-down Pentium II-class chip aimed squarely at the fast-growing market for entry-level PCs. The good news: Continued competition at the high and low ends of the market will force manufacturers to slash prices and push performance further. The bad news: Celeron falls short of the mark.
AMD rises on new confidence By Reuters March 30, 1998 C/Net	Shares of Advanced Micro Devices rose today after getting a boost from two analysts who said the chipmaker's manufacturing is improving. The signs of confidence came from analyst Eric Rothdeutsch of Volpe Brown Whelan and Dan Niles, a BancAmerica Robertson Stephens analyst and an occasional columnist for CNET's NEWS.COM. Both said AMD was getting better yields of its K6 processor, meaning that it is getting more good parts to ship to customers.
Where were they when Intel was making claims that could not be substantiated in the real world?.	The article basically discusses the ambiguity of benchmarks (like ByteMarks) which Apple used for this test. Fine. But remember Intel was claiming that MMX made their processors 4 or 8 times faster or more? I do.
Intel challenged in low-cost arena By Michael Kanellos March 31, 1998 C/Net	Despite production snags in 1997, both Advanced Micro Devices and Cyrix are engaged in ambitious product strategies this year that will likely challenge Intel in the cheap computing space. Both companies will try to maintain performance parity with the Intel Pentium II processors in 1998 and, at the same time, sell their processors for significantly less. The two companies, along with Integrated Device Technologies are, in addition, making a concerted effort in graphics. All three are currently hammering out standards for an additional, common set of 3D instructions that will be incorporated into processors this year.
Intel postpones California building By Brooke Crothers March 30, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) will delay construction of an office building at its Folsom, California, site, as the company adjusts to a more severe business climate than previously anticipated. The central California site includes Intel's Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) components division, flash memory products division, and math co-processors and microprocessor upgrade products division, among other businesses.
Pentium II notebooks boost performance, cut battery life By John G. Spooner March 30, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel Corp.'s first Pentium II processors for notebook PCs will offer better performance but will place a real drag on battery power. Intel this week will introduce 233MHz and 266MHz Pentium II processors packaged on an MMO (Mobile Module) or on a cartridge including the CPU and 512KB of Level 2 cache, said officials at the Santa Clara, Calif., company.
Intel says main problem is reviving growth By Sonali Verma March 31, 1998 PC Week	Semiconductor giant Intel Corp is struggling to revive growth after facing more than a year of stagnant revenues, company president Craig Barrett said on Tuesday. "The biggest issue that we face right now is getting back on the growth track," Barrett told a news conference.
Headlines March 30, 1998
Intel Japan Chairman Sees Small Market for Celeron By Staff Writer March 26, 1998 Asia Biz Tech	Intel KK Chairman Ikuo Nishioka said the company's new Celeron microprocessor for low-priced personal computers might build up only a relatively small market share. During a March 19 seminar in Tokyo for reporters on Intel's future product plans, Nishioka said Celeron could account for about 10 percent of the entire microprocessor market for PCs.
Japan cool to low-cost Intel chip By Kurt Oeler March 27, 1998 C/Net	Though it hasn't yet reached the market, Intel's first chip to specifically target low-cost PCs, the Celeron, will probably meet with a cool welcome in Japan, mirroring its advance reception in the United States. Celeron is unlikely to gain more than ten percent market share, Intel Japan chairman Ikuo Nishioka recently told a Tokyo seminar, business daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported today.
Peripheral Gear Makers Pessimistic After Celeron Debut By Staff Writer March 30, 1998 Asia Biz Tech	Makers of computer peripheral equipment said that purchases of PCs are expected to be stagnant in Taiwan, as uncertainties surround the Covington microprocessor and the 440EX chip set, two parts of Intel Corp.'s Celeron motherboard that is slated to appear later this year. For this reason, suppliers say PC prices are likely to continue sliding, and earnings of computer companies may decline. Intel's Pentium II line has obtained a large share of the local market since the beginning of this year.
Analyst sees threats to Intel By Brooke Crothers and Michael Kanellos March 27, 1998 C/Net	One the chip industry's leading pundits today said that Intel (INTC) faces a rash of threats including emerging chip powerhouse IBM and the Federal Trade Commission. Speaking at one of the computer industry's largest and most prestigious gatherings of engineers, the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, Michael Slater said that Intel will increasingly have to compete against IBM's chipmaking arm, which has become a major manufacturer of low-cost, Intel-compatible chips for Advanced Micro Devices, Integrated Device Technology (IDT), Cyrix, and possibly others. Slater is the founder of MicroDesign Resources and founder and editorial director of the Microprocessor Report.
AMD Gets Microsoft's Blessing By Mark Hachman March 27, 1998 Electronic Buyers News	Microsoft Corp.'s annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Orlando, Fla., proved to be an occasion for the software giant to get in its two cents worth on several hardware initiatives. Perhaps most significantly, Microsoft rescued microprocessor manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices Inc. when it announced that its DirectX 6.0 software API would ship in July, rather than on some future undisclosed date, as originally planned.
Cyrix bets its future on integrated chips By Lisa DiCarlo March 30, 1998 PC Week Online	Cyrix Corp. has seen the future of its microprocessors, and it's integrated. The company will begin transforming its entire product line next year into a series of low-cost processors with varying levels of integration. The first chip to incorporate such integration will be the company's next-generation processor core, code-named Jalapeno.
Chip maker Cyrix may copy the Pentium II bus By Robert Lemos March 23, 1998 ZDNN	PC chip maker Cyrix Corp., a subsidiary of chip giant National Semiconductor Corp. (NSM), may try to reverse-engineer Intel Corp.'s proprietary bus design to make Pentium II-compatible chips, said industry insiders on Friday. "Now that Cyrix belongs to National, they are legally covered to do (the Pentium II bus)," said Jim Turley, a senior analyst with semiconductor market watcher MicroDesign Resources Inc. "Now they just have to make the chips."
PC's drivers ponder architectural overhaul By Rick Boyd-Merritt and Anthony Cataldo March 30, 1998 EE Times	Despite surging revenue for Microsoft Corp.'s products, executives of the company readily admitted at its annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference that the PC, in many respects, is a technological mess. While the confession was hardly surprising to the enginers gathered for WinHEC, public and private comments revealed nascent plans to overhaul the PC's 17-year-old hardware and software underpinnings.
WinHEC Mulls Intel's Competition By Stuart Glascock Mar. 27, 1998 Computer Reseller News	The closing session of Microsoft Corp.'s seventh annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) this week was dominated by discussion about chip giant Intel Corp., its emerging field of competitors, and their implications across the computing spectrum. Intel's x86 competitors stand a good chance to build up to 20 percent to 30 percent combined market share. However, the biggest challenge facing those companies will be to increase profits, Michael Slater, principal analyst for MicroDesign Resources, Sebastopol, Calif., told the gathering of some 3,500 hardware engineers. "We do have a vibrant microprocessor market out there," Slater said in his talk today.
Pop quiz: Can you name the chip makers? By Mike Feibus March 23, 1998 PC Week Online	Clear off your desk. I don't want to see anything but a pencil and a blank sheet of paper. This column is a pop quiz. I know you didn't prepare. Don't worry. This won't go on your permanent record. Here we go: Write down the names of all the X86 PC processor vendors you can think of. (I'm humming the "Jeopardy" jingle while you scribble.) Time's up. That means pencils down, people! Let's see how you did.
Intel Outlines Plans For Set-Top Boxes By Gregory Quick March 27, 1998 Computer Retail Week	An Intel executive discussed the chip maker's set-top box efforts during his keynote address at the Windows Hardware Engineering (WinHec) Conference in Orlando, Fla., this week. Mike Aymar, Intel's vice president and general manager of its consumer products group, said Intel [profile] is developing three products for set-top users who also want some computing capabilities. Intel sees the family room as a PC growth area and a place where a great deal of experimentation will occur before any design becomes a standard, Aymar said.
Headlines March 27, 1998
Intel charts new course after Grove By Tom Quinlan March 26, 1998 San Jose Mercury News	Andrew Grove propelled Intel Corp. to the top of the electronics industry. Now he's handed Craig Barrett what may be a tougher task: Staying there. With the Thursday announcement that he will step aside as Intel's chief executive, Grove, 61, is ending one of the most remarkable managerial runs in corporate history. This Hungarian immigrant -- who joined Intel at the outset in 1968 and became CEO in 1987 -- took the company from $2 billion to $25 billion in annual sales and established its unquestioned dominance of personal computer hardware.	See Today's Related Stories Other Related Stories Years of preparation preceded transition Intel's four CEOs Behind every great company, there's a risk-taker
Barrett to continue "Intel Everywhere" push By Andy Santoni March 26, 1998 InfoWorld Electric	Intel's "divide and conquer" strategy to target processors at specific applications will extend from high-end servers to equipment even less expensive than the lowest-cost "Basic PC" the Intel Architecture (IA) can satisfy, according to Craig Barrett, Intel's president and new chief executive officer. At the low end, Intel will develop products around the StrongARM architecture it recently licensed from Advanced RISC Machines. "That's one of the ideas," said Barrett in a recent interview.
Intel Stock Responds to Smooth Transition By Larry Barrett March 26, 1998 Inter@ctive Investor	Sorry, no caption available.
Years of preparation preceded transition Q & A With Andy Grove By Tom Quinlan March 26, 1998 San Jose Mercury News	Mercury News Staff Writer Tom Quinlan spoke by phone Thursday with Intel Chairman Andrew Grove, shortly after the announcement that Grove would hand the chief executive officer's post to Craig Barrett. Grove will remain chairman. Here is an edited transcript of their conversation.	Other Related Stories Intel charts new course after Grove Intel's four CEOs Behind every great company, there's a risk-taker
Intel's four CEOs By Staff Writer March 26, 1998 San Jose Mercury News	San Jose Mercury News profile of Intel's four CEOs.	Other Related Stories Intel charts new course after Grove Years of preparation preceded transition Behind every great company, there's a risk-taker
Behind every great company, there's a risk-taker By Dan Gillmor March 27, 1998 San Jose Mercury News	IN a few, harsh days in late 1994, Andy Grove steered his company through a remarkable U-turn. Grove, who said Thursday he will step down from his longtime post as Intel Corp.'s chief executive officer, was confronting an increasingly virulent backlash. Researchers had found a rarely occurring calculating error in the then-new Pentium chip. Intel was telling worried customers that the bug was no big deal, certainly not important enough to replace the chips except in rare cases -- and Intel itself would decide which customers deserved replacements.	Other Related Stories Intel charts new course after Grove Years of preparation preceded transition Intel's four CEOs
Pentium II set-top under $400? By Michael Kanellos March 26, 1998 C/Net	From Intel's perspective, it's better late than never. Slow to recognize the sub-$1,000 PC market, the chip giant will aggressively attack the market for inexpensive TV set-top boxes with a new line of low-cost Celeron processors, a company executive said today. In the fall of 1999, computer makers will begin to ship $399 set-top boxes based around an Intel Celeron processor, predicted Mike Aymar, vice president and general manager of Intel's consumer products group.
Intel delays Texas plant again By Kurt Oeler March 26, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) again pushed back the opening of a microprocessor production plant outside Fort Worth, Texas, calling for a complete halt to construction of a $1.3 billion facility that was originally slated to open in 1999. "Fab 16" won't come online until 2002, when it will produce chips on 300mm wafers in the advanced 0.13 micron process, an Intel spokesman said. The chip giants's most advanced chips now are made on 200mm wafers in the 0.25 micron process. Larger wafers are more economical because they can accommodate more chips; smaller micron measurements mean more transistors can be packed into the same-sized chip.
Pentium II notebook glut feared By Jim Davis March 26, 1998 C/Net	When Intel announces the first Pentium II processors for mobile PCs next week it will trigger a flood of notebooks from the likes of Gateway 2000 and Dell Computer. But there's more to it than that. Some notebook vendors are already experiencing bloated inventory levels, and the situation could worsen as a raft of new portables with top-of-the-line mobile chips arrives in April.
Related Stories March 27, 1998
Changing of the Guard Special Coverage March 27, 1998 C/Net	Intel's surprise transition raises questions about the leading chipmaker's future. Will the paranoid still survive?	Many Related Stories Linked from this Page
Line of Succession The Paranoia Continues Special Coverage March 27, 1998 PC-Week Online	What Andy Grove had to say today: Why he chose this point in time to step down from the CEO post. Who will succeed Craig Barrett as COO? Why he doesn't consider his new role to be "ambassadorial." The issues he plans to focus on in his new role as chairman.	Many Related Stories Linked from this Page
Barrett comes out of the shadows at Intel By Charles Cooper March 26, 1998 ZD Net News	Craig Barrett rides horses. He rides bikes. But Intel Corp.'s newly named chief executive does not ride elevators -- at least not the one to his fifth-floor cubicle at the company's Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters. "I don't think he's ever been on an elevator here," one Intel manager said of the 58-year-old Barrett, a rangy, athletic man who owns a Montana ranch and is an avid cyclist. "He's the most physical guy I've ever seen. You just don't want to mess with him." Especially now.
Intel's Grove: 'I was ready' By Margaret Kane March 26, 1998 ZD Net News	Andy Grove had three simple words today to explain his decision to step down as CEO of Intel Corp. "I was ready," Grove said in an interview with ZDNN. Grove plans to use his new-found free time to study issues that would benefit not just Intel Corp. (INTC), but the PC industry as a whole.

Headlines March 26, 1998
Barrett to be Intel CEO By Reuters March 26, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) plans to elect Craig Barrett, current president and chief operating officer, as its next chief executive officer, succeeding longtime CEO Andrew Grove, who will continue working full time as chairman, the company said today. The move, which Intel's board will enact after the company's annual meeting on May 20, marks the second switch in the giant chipmaker's executive ranks in a year.	See Today's Related Stories Other Related Stories Barrett Inside
AMD's Sanders takes pay cut By Dawn Yoshitake March 26, 1998 C/Net	Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) last year cut back the compensation package of its chairman and chief executive Jerry Sanders, a chip executive who in the past has been taken to task for being one of the industry's highest paid executives during times when his company didn't shine. Sanders received a slight reduction in his base salary to $1 million last year, down from $1.03 million the previous year. And he did not earn a bonus or receive any options last year, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing yesterday.
Katmai chip to get 200-MHz bus By Michael Kanellos March 25, 1998 C/Net	Although the 100-MHz system bus is yet to be released, it will likely have a short life, industry pundit Michael Slater said at Microsoft's WinHec Conference. Slater, a keynote speaker at the conference and the founder of MicroDesign Resources, said that by 1999 Intel will likely move to a 200-MHz system bus for its high-end chips with Katmai, the next generation of Intel processors. Katmai chips are expected to run at speeds as high as 750 MHz.
Set-tops closer to PCs, without Intel By Brooke Crothers March 25, 1998 C/Net	General Instrument, the largest manufacturer of TV set-top boxes, has chosen a MIPS processor for its next-generation set-top box, a device that will include many features similar to a personal computer. Major chipmakers Intel and Cyrix lost out in the decision, which is important because General Instrument supplies set-top boxes to cable TV giant TCI and last year won an agreement to supply 12 large cable companies with 15 million new devices. The potential market for set-tops with computer-like features dwarfs the PC market, perhaps numbering in the hundreds of millions, and is a critical area of chip growth.
PC Hardware In A Rut By Stuart Glascock March 25, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Despite faster processing speeds and heightened consumer interest in computing, the PC industry is stuck in a rut, a leading microprocessor analyst told a gathering hardware engineers at Microsoft 's 7th annual Windows Hardware Engineering (WinHec) Conference. "The desire to preserve legacy hardware and software drags down advances," said Michael Slater, principal analyst for MicroDesign Resources, in Sebastopol, Calif.
Related Stories March 26, 1998
Barrett to succeed Grove as Intel CEO By Margaret Kane March 26, 1998 ZD Net News	Intel Corp. President Craig Barrett has been named the company's next CEO, replacing Andy Grove, who will continue as chairman of the board of the semiconductor giant. According to an Intel spokesman, Grove will now focus his attention on overseeing Intel's relationship with the rest of the computer industry.
Intel COO Barrett To Take Over Grove's CEO Spot By Larry Dignan March 26, 1998 TechInvestor	Intel said Thursday that Craig Barrett, president and chief operating officer of the company, will take over as CEO for Andrew Grove. Grove, 61, will remain chairman of the company. Intel said the hand-off will occur at the chip maker's annual meeting May 20. In early trading, Intel [INTC] was up 1 1/4 to 77 5/16.
Barrett to succeed Grove as Intel CEO By Staff Writer March 26, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Intel Corp.'s board plans to elect Craig R. Barrett, current president and chief operating officer, as its next chief executive officer at the next organizational meeting which will immediately follow the company's annual meeting on May 20. Barrett, 58, succeeds Andrew S. Grove, 61, who will continue working full time as chairman.
Intel To Name Craig Barrett As CEO By Staff Writer March 26, 1998 Electronic Buyer's News	Intel Corp. Thursday said its board of directors plans to elect Craig R. Barrett, Intel's president and chief operating officer, to succeed Intel chairman and chief executive Andrew S. Grove as Intel's next CEO. Barrett, 58, Intel's longtime chief operating officer who was named president last June, will be elected as Intel's CEO at the board's next organizational meeting immediately following the company's May 20 annual meeting.
Barrett named as Intel CEO, replacing Grove By Rebecca Sykes March 26, 1998 InfoWorld Electric	Craig Barrett, Intel's president and chief operating officer, will replace Andrew Grove as CEO, Intel said Thursday. The change will take place at an organizational meeting following Intel's annual meeting on May 20, and Grove will continue on as the company's chairman, according to a statement from Intel. Grove, 61, said in the statement the change will give him more time to focus on broad strategic issues affecting the industry and Intel, which he helped found in 1968.
Headlines March 25, 1998
400-MHz Pentium IIs shipping By Brooke Crothers and Kurt Oeler March 24, 1998 C/Net	Chip resellers are already shipping 350-MHz and 400-MHz versions of the Pentium II, in advance of April 15's scheduled announcement of speed upgrades to Intel's (INTC) top-of-the-line microprocessor. Now in stock, the 350-MHz and 400-MHz Pentium II chips will sell for $610 and $800, respectively, according to sources at one chip reseller.
AMD Provides Chip for PC/TV Device By Aaron Ricadela March 24, 1998 Computer Retail Week	Intel isn't the only chip in town for information appliances. Rival Advanced Micro Devices is supplying the processor for a PC/TV planned for release this summer in the United States. Genoa System, in Fremont, Calif., showed a combination PC, television, and DVD-ROM player powered by an embedded AMD Elan 400 processor at the CeBit '98 trade show last week in Hannover, Germany. Alex Klocksin, Genoa associate director of international sales and marketing, said the processor, which has no bus, is an embedded version of the K6 chip AMD uses in the PC market. It runs at the equivalent speed of a Pentium 166-MHz processor, he said.
AMD: Facing big question marks By Robert Lemos March 24, 1998 PC Week - Australia	It's no longer just about processors - it's about architectures. PC chip maker Advanced Micro Devices is in danger of becoming boxed out of the PC industry by Intel's move towards a proprietary PC architecture, according to industry analysts. "AMD is going to be left to develop their own computer architecture to compete with Intel," said Nathan Brookwood, industry analyst for market researcher Dataquest. "Unless they get 10 to 20 percent of the market, they are in trouble."
AMD Chief Financial Officer Resigns By Staff Writer March 25, 1998 Electronic Buyer's News	Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), Sunnyvale, Calif., on Wednesday said Marvin Burkett, senior vice president and chief financial officer for AMD, has resigned to accept a senior position with a non-competing company. Burkett, 56, joined the semiconductor manufacturer in 1972 and was promoted to AMD's chief financial officer in 1989. Prior to joining AMD, he worked at Raytheon Corp.
PC road map, design issues confronted at WinHEC By Rick Boyd-Merritt and Anthony Cataldo March 23, 1998 EE Times	Far from its usual businesslike venue in Redmond, Wash., Microsoft Corp. will lay out its views on the next stage of the evolution of the PC at its annual tête-à-tête with PC makers, the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC). But the laid-back locale of the hometown of Disney World masks lingering tensions between Microsoft and PC makers as OEMs scramble to get their hardware and driver models in place for the summer debut of Windows 98. Microsoft is expected to make at least some public comment on its plans — so far discussed mainly in private with OEMs — for a PC 2000 document. Sources say this will be be a watershed in detailing a PC architecture that sheds support for legacy technologies such as the ISA bus, serial and parallel ports, and full DOS compatibility.
Intel: Processor Preludes Next year's Katmai chip will specialize in 3D, while Celeron will serve the value market. By Cade Metz March 23, 1998 PC-Week Australia	Klamath. Tillamook. Deschutes. In the past, geographical code names and the processor enhancements they represented were always leaked by Microprocessor Report and other leading trade publications--never by Intel. With Katmai, the Pentium II desktop processor that followed Deschutes, Intel made its own public statement a full year before the chip's arrival. Katmai, named for a volcano in Alaska, will arrive sometime in the first half of 1999. Built around the Pentium II core, the chip will be the first processor to use what Intel calls "Katmai New Instructions Technology." Over a year and a half ago, Microprocessor Report first referred to the supplementary instructions as MMX2, but Intel has no plans to use such a moniker.
So Far, AGP Video Is A Blurry Proposition By James E. Powell March 24, 1998 Windows Magazine	Imagine a video card that borrows from system memory when it needs to render complex images. That's the promise of Intel's Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP). But after three months of testing, I believe that AGP really stands for A Grievous Process. Drivers provided by the graphics card vendors are changing constantly (far more frequently than drivers for PCI cards). In addition, of the three computer systems I ultimately used for testing, not one worked properly with all the cards. Graphics card and system makers are still finding their way through the AGP maze-one system even came with an AGP card but no AGP-enabled drivers.	Many Related Stories Linked from this Page
Hottest Chips Available On Open Market By Kelly Spang March 24, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Although Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. lately have not introduced any new chips to the reseller channel, faster-speed processors from both companies are popping up in the open market. The latest Pentium II Slot 1 processors, yet to be introduced by Intel, and the 266MHz K6 from AMD, which is not yet available in the reseller channel, are both currently available from multiple online sources for a premium price.
Headlines March 24, 1998
Cyrix sticks with Socket 7 -- for now By Lisa DiCarlo March 23, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel Corp.'s X86 chip competitors have decided that there is strength in numbers. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), Cyrix Corp., and Integrated Device Technology Inc. (IDTI) have agreed to collaborate on a single design for a 100MHz main bus, which improves upon the existing Socket 7 infrastructure. The three chip makers are also working on alternatives to Intel's 3-D-enhanced MMX instructions due next year.
Mobile Pentium II set for release By Kurt Oeler and Michael Kanellos March 23, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) confirmed it will introduce its first Pentium II microprocessors for notebook computers on April 2 at the company's Santa Clara, California, headquarters. Stephen Nachtsheim, general manager of Intel's Mobile and Handheld Products Group, will host next Thursday's event, the company said in a short statement. The proceedings begin at 9:30 a.m.
NetWare To Be Optimized For Merced By Stuart Glascock March 23, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Novell on Monday announced a strategic relationship with Intel to optimize the 64-bit Intel Merced chip, which is on track for delivery in 1999, for the Novell NetWare architecture. "We plan to build the fastest Intel-based server platform in the world, bar none," said Chris Stone, vice president of strategy and corporate development at Novell.
Intel Cuts Price Of Top-Speed Pentium II By 19 Percent By Mark Hachman March 23,. 1998 Electronic Buyers' News	As expected, Intel has cut the price of its 333-MHz Slot 1 Pentium II processor by 19 percent, from $722 to $584, a side benefit of the company's conversion to a 0.25-micron process.
Intel, Sun bury a hatchet By Deborah Gage March 23, 1998 Sm@rtReseller	At least one dispute about which platform is better for running Java is over. After more than a year of negotiations, Intel Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. have finally agreed on how floating-point arithmetic operations should be specified in Java. The two companies are circulating a proposal to Java licensees and will formally announce their agreement today.
Headlines March 23, 1998
Intel gets a challenge from 3 deals with IBM By Tom Quinlan March 23, 1998 San Jose Mercury News	Since 1993, Intel Corp.'s not-so-secret weapon in the battle for microprocessor dominance has been its ability to produce more chips faster and cheaper than anyone else. Now three companies with strong microprocessor technology -- National Semiconductor, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Integrated Device Technology Inc. -- have come up with a common solution to the manufacturing problem: IBM. In the last few weeks, both IDT and AMD have announced agreements under which IBM's Microelectronics Division will manufacture their latest, Pentium compatible chips. National's microprocessor subsidiary, Cyrix Corp., has been taking advantage of IBM's manufacturing prowess for years and now hopes to strengthen the relationship.	Other Related Stories IBM becomes low-cost chip power IBM, Integrated Device Technology Partner On Chip Manufacturing AMD may get copper technology from IBM IBM deal no panacea for AMD AMD nabs IBM chip deal
AMD, Cyrix Pump Up Processor Speed By Kelly Spang March 20, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Stepping up processor clock speed, both Cyrix and Advanced Micro Devices will begin shipping a 266-MHz chip in the coming quarter. By May, AMD (Profile) is expected to begin shipping its K6 266-MHz processor to its distributors, according to industry sources. The K6 266-MHz is available in consumer systems from IBM as AMD ramps volumes.
Cyrix solving production woes By Reuters March 20, 1998 C/Net	National Semiconductor said today that its Cyrix subsidiary is set to improve profitability after taking steps to solve a number of manufacturing hurdles. "Moving forward, our ability to be profitable looks quite good for entry-level products," Steve Tobak, national vice president of corporate marketing, said in an interview at the CeBIT computer trade fair.
Intel cuts prices, side deals By Michael Kanellos March 20, 1998 C/Net	With the world awash in an excess of desktop computers, Intel (INTC) will sharply cut prices over the next two quarters and likely give special deals on high-end chips to its major partners in a effort to clear the path for new products. The semiconductor giant kicked off a new season of price reductions yesterday when it reduced the volume price of its 333-MHz Pentium II from $722 to $583.	Other Related Stories 333-MHz Pentium II price slashed
Headlines March 20, 1998
Intel demos 700-MHz Pentium II By Reuters March 19, 1998 C/Net	At the CeBIT trade fair, Intel (INTC) demonstrated a PC with Pentium II processor running at 700 MHz--more than twice the rate of today's speed king, which runs at 333 MHz. At that speed, a Pentium II-based PC will have the performance of what was the world's fastest supercomputer only a few years ago.	See Today's Related Stories
333-MHz Pentium II price slashed By Reuters March 19, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) cut the price on the fastest version of its Pentium II processor by 19 percent, to stimulate demand at the high end of the PC market. Intel said it reduced the price of a 333-MHz Pentium II processor to $583 from $722 per processor, when purchased in quantities of 1,000. The price action comes less than two months after the top-of-the-line chip debuted.
Pentium II notebooks due April 2 By Michael Kanellos March 19, 1998 C/Net	Notebooks will finally incorporate Intel technology introduced more than two years ago when the chip giant unveils its first Pentium II processors for portables on April 2, according to major PC vendors and other sources. Back in November 1995, Intel introduced its P6 architecture, the foundation of the Pentium Pro and the newer Pentium II. Both of these top-line chips have been featured prominently in desktop PCs, workstations, and servers, but never have they made it into portable computers. To date, this class of chip wreaked havoc on battery life and generated too much heat to be used in mobile PCs.	Other Related Stories IBM to debut thin Pentium II notebooks
Next PCs eyed at Windows show By Michael Kanellos and Brooke Crothers March 20, 1998 C/Net	Cheap PCs, home computing, Windows 98, and new chips headline the topics slated for discussion at next week's Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, a major industry event for engineers who design the latest and greatest hardware for the Windows operating system. The three-day conference serves as a touchstone for changes in hardware architecture. Microsoft typically uses the conference to promote and announce new PC technologies for the coming year.
Analyst sees "Wintel" monopoly By Stephanie Miles March 19, 1998 C/Net	Microsoft and Intel have leveraged their symbiotic relationship to dominate the PC industry, but that mutually beneficial relationship may be at a crossroads, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) analyst. Speaking at IDC's Directions 98 conference, analyst Dave Vellante today outlined how the "Wintel" dominance came about as a result of a series of misfires and miscues from competitive forces, specifically IBM, Apple, Lotus, and the Unix camp.
Intel bullish on PC demand By Reuters March 19, 1998 C/Net	Shaking off a recent profit warning, Intel (INTC) remains bullish on midterm PC demand and confident about a profitable entry into a new market segment that has so far generated only red ink for its rivals. The chipmaking giant expects the number of PCs installed worldwide to rise fivefold from 200 million now to more than 1 billion after the turn of the century--an increase that it plans to meet by churning out different lines of chips designed specifically for corporate, mobile, and high-powered computers.
Special Feature: Intel Press Room Stories
The Next Generation Microprocessor Architecture: IA-64™	The volume and complexity of data processed by today's enterprise servers and workstations is increasing dramatically. New applications for internet communications, e-commerce, compute-intensive CAD, 3D graphics and the rapid growth of the visual computing model all place increasingly heavy workloads on high-end workstations and servers. Although today's processor performance-such as Intel's IA-32 line of products-continues to increase, new applications and environments demand new performance, scalability and reliability levels.
Intel processors for 1998: Evolving to meet the needs of multiple market segments by Richard Dracott Director of Marketing MD6 Intel Corporation Microprocessor Products Group	Intel is bringing the advanced capability and performance of the P6 microarchitecture* to a variety of unique market segments. First introduced with the Pentium® Pro processor in 1995, Intel has continued to develop the P6 microarchitecture into the Pentium II processor of today with the scaleable performance features of Dual Independent Bus (DIB) architecture and Dynamic Execution. These advanced features of the P6 microarchitecture will continue to evolve, offering an affordable and flexible core design capable of supporting the increasingly rich variety of 32-bit PC application segments.
The Future Intel Processors	Intel is expanding its family of processors based on P6 microarchitecture to bring its power and scalability to all segments of the computing market – from high-end servers and workstations to desktop and mobile computers.
Related Stories March 20, 1998
Intel demonstrates 700-MHz Pentium II at CeBit By Terho Uimonen March 19, 1998 InfoWorld Electric	Intel at the CeBit show here Thursday gave a preview of what kind of processor performance PC users can expect this year, along with a look at the future with the demonstration of a system running a Pentium II chip at more than 700 MHz. The technology demonstration of a 0.25-micron Pentium II processor running at clock speeds as high as 702 MHz shows off the processor family's speed, said Albert Yu, Intel's senior vice president of the microprocessor products group. "This is the first time we have reached 700 MHz," Yu said.
Intel shows 700Mhz chip By Reuters March 19, 1998 PC Week	Intel Corp. on Thursday put the PC world on notice that its dizzying gains in computing power will only accelerate -- even for home computers priced under $1,000. At the CeBIT trade fair, Intel (INTC) demonstrated a PC with Pentium II running at 700 Mhz -- more than twice the rate of today's speed king, a 333 Mhz model.
Headlines March 19, 1998
Intel shows new chips at CeBIT By Reuters March 19, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) today, at the CeBIT trade fair, presented a simulation of its next-generation Merced processor and demonstrated an array of computer chips due for release later this year. The Merced simulation showed the technology that Intel is counting on to keep chip performance doubling about every 18 months well into the next decade.	See Today's Related Stories
Cyrix's MediaGX for Windows CE By Michael Kanellos March 18, 1998 C/Net	Cyrix released a 233-MHz version of its MediaGX processor and said it would try to foster the chip's adoption in Windows CE devices, making it the first Intel-compatible chipmaker to seek out this market. The latest version of Cyrix's integrated processor comes after a series of design setbacks for the company. Both Compaq Computer and IBM scaled back their use of Cyrix products earlier this year.	See Today's Related Stories
IDT Sets WinChip C6 Roadmap By Staff Writer March 18, 1998 Computer Retail Week	IDT has released its microprocessor roadmap for the balance of 1998, now that its manufacturing agreement with IBM for WinChip C6 microprocessors is official. The company is currently supplying a 200MHz version of the WinChip C6 processor to Trigem, which is building an $899 system now available at Costco. Other IDT customers include retailer PC Club and system manufacturer Techmedia.
IBM becomes low-cost chip power By Michael Kanellos March 18, 1998 C/Net	Which company poses the greatest competitive challenge for Intel in the processor market? Advanced Micro Devices? Cyrix? Try IBM, which makes chips for both of these companies and more. A good argument can be made that Big Blue is building a large chip portfolio based on low-cost architectures to challenge industry leader Intel in the coming years.
Intel targets 1 billion PCs By Reuters March 19, 1998 ZD Net News	Chip maker Intel Corp., shaking off a recent profit warning, said on Thursday it remains bullish on PC demand in the mid-term and confident about a profitable entry into a new market egment that has so far only generated red ink for its rivals. Intel (INTC) expected the number of PCs installed worldwide to rise fivefold from 200 million now to more than one billion after the turn of the century -- an increase that it planned to meet by churning out different lines of chips designed specifically for corporate, mobile and high-powered computers.
National Semi and Cyrix tout system management, new chip By Lisa DiCarlo March 18, 1998 PC Week Online	National Semiconductor Inc. and its Cyrix Corp. subsidiary are pushing forward with advances in system management and performance. National, which acquired Cyrix last fall, will announce next week at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in Orlando, Fla., a remote management controller and firmware package that sends IT managers immediate alerts when a component misbehaves. For its part, Cyrix today announced a 233MHz version of its MMX-enabled MediaGX integrated processor.
Intel opens Costa Rican chip plant By Reuters March 19, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC), the world's leading microprocessor maker, formally opened a huge computer chip plant in Costa Rica yesterday. Intel said in a statement that it would export Pentium II microprocessors from the factory, located at La Ribera de Belen, about 12 miles northwest of the capital, San Jose.
Related Stories March 19, 1998
CeBIT 98: Intel - A taste of things to come By Richard Barry March 19, 1998 PC Week	The evolution and future of the Intel microprocessor and platform will be presented by the company's senior VP, Dr. Albert Yu, at CeBit this afternoon. Yu will demonstrate the forthcoming PII 350Mhz which is due next month, as well as a first look at the Pentium II for "Slot 2". But perhaps the most interesting preview will be Intel's IA-64 technology: in other words Merced, scheduled for production on Intel's 0.18 micron process in 1999. Yu will demonstrate how Merced uses a new design philosophy called EPIC (Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing) which, says the company, "overcomes the performance limits of traditional processor architectures," while maintaining compatibility with applications designed for 32-bit architectures.	Other Related Stories Intel details 1999 Merced release Intel, HP say Merced will be EPIC
Cyrix pushes 233-MHz MediaGX towards Windows CE applications By Staff Writer March 18, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Cyrix Corp. here today announced a 233-MHz version of its MMX-enhanced MediaGX microprocessor family. The wholly-owned subsidiary of National Semiconductor Corp. also said its MediaGX processor platform has been certified as compatible with the Windows CE operating system from Microsoft Corp.
Headlines March 18, 1998
Chip Execs Seek Support In Washington By Mary Mosquera March 17, 1998 TechWeb	Leaders of the largest American semiconductor companies, including Intel president Craig Barrett and Advanced Micro Devices CEO William Sanders III trekked to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lobby Congress and heighten awareness of the industry's needs. On the same day International Data released the results of a study showing chip revenue growth will slow this year, the executives used a full court press in the nation's capital.
AMD's credit rating drops By Staff Writer March 17, 1998 ZD Net News	Credit rating firm Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. (DCR) lowered the rating of chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s senior debt, citing the company's recent losses and expected future losses. In its annual report, AMD (AMD) stated that it "expects revenues in the first quarter of 1998 to decline significantly, and the net loss to increase significantly as compared to the fourth quarter of 1997."
Taiwan Motherboards Hedged with Slot 1, Socket 7 Motherboard manufacturers are cutting time-to-market by using the Intel chipset, and cutting prices with Taiwan-made Socket 7 chipsets.	Most of the motherboard manufacturers in Taiwan are starting to make the transition from the original equipment manufacturing (OEM) market to the do-it-yourself (DIY) market. Over the last few years an increasing proportion of users in Taiwan are building their own personal computer (PC) systems. According to AsusteK Computer Inc of Taiwan, a major supplier of motherboards, 30-40% of the desktop systems sold in Taiwan are destined to be custom built. Although this figure includes the so-called "shop brand" products assembled by PC retailers, the DIY market has grown in volume by several hundred percent over the past two years.	Other Related Stories Dropping Pentium II Prices Drive Slot 1 Expansion
Dropping Pentium II Prices Drive Slot 1 Expansion	How Slot 1 moves in the market will play a major part in deciding Intel's product roadmap (Fig A1). The pace of evolution in Slot 1 motherboards is rapid, and if you buy one without knowing Intel's plans, you may end up with a brand new board that is already behind the times.	Other Related Stories Taiwan Motherboards Hedged with Slot 1, Socket 7
IBM, Integrated Device Technology Partner On Chip Manufacturing By CRW Business Desk March 17, 1998 Computer Retail Week	Integrated Device Technology (IDT) has entered a chip-manufacturing partnership with IBM in an attempt to expand its presence in the low-cost PC market. IDT announced Tuesday that it signed an agreement for IBM to make IDT WinChip C6+ microprocessors using 0.25-micron, 2.5-volt IBM Blue Logic technology. IDT's WinChips are offered in a limited release of 200-MHz systems from TriGem and sold in warehouse clubs.	See Today's Related Stories
Related Stories March 18, 1998
Chip Makers Using IBM Facilities By Kelly Spang March 17, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT) is the latest chip maker to partner with IBM Microelectronics to gain additional manufacturing capacity. In a three-year foundry agreement announced today, IBM will manufacture the IDT WinChip C6 processor and future generation. IBM will produce the IDT chips using its 0.25 micron technology at its Burlington, Vt., facility. IDT has its own manufacturing capacity with facilities in Hillsboro, Ore., and San Jose, Calif., which are currently in production at 0.30 micron and are migrating to 0.25 micron technology.
IBM signs foundry deal to make IDT WinChip MPUs By Staff Writer March 17, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Integrated Device Technology Inc. announced today it has signed a foundry agreement with IBM using their 0.25-micron, 2.5-volt IBM Blue Logic technology to manufacture IDT WinChip C6+ microprocessors. The three-year agreement, which includes the production of future generations of the IDT microprocessor, gives IDT access to IBM's leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing technology and provides IDT with the additional capacity needed to meet demand in the low-cost PC market.
IDT signs up Big Blue By Robert Lemos March 17, 1998 ZD Net News	It's official: IBM is the manufacturer of choice for Intel's rivals. On Tuesday, chip maker Integrated Device Technology Inc. signed up Big Blue to make x86 processors, joining Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) and Cyrix Corp. (CYRX) as IBM (IBM) customers. "(Signing with IBM) gives our customers confidence that IDT will have adequate supply to meet their requirements," said Len Perham, IDT (IDTI) president and CEO, in a statement.
Headlines March 17, 1998
IDT, IBM strike manufacturing deal By Reuters March 17, 1998 C/Net	Integrated Device Technology (IDTI) today will announce a deal with IBM (IBM) in which the computer giant will manufacture IDT's Intel-compatible processors. IBM will manufacture IDT's WinChip C6+ microprocessors, in a three-year agreement, at its Burlington, Vermont, plant. The pact will give IDT another manufacturing source for its processors, which it launched in September. IDT is targeting the market for sub-$1,000 PCs and the sub-$2,000 notebook market with its processors, which it says consume less power.	See Today's Related Stories Other Related Stories IBM drops Cyrix processor AMD may get copper technology from IBM IBM deal no panacea for AMD AMD nabs IBM chip deal
Merced tempts some But other Unix users are undecided about making the leap By Esther Shein March 16, 1998 PC Week Online	Merced appeals strongly to certain sectors of the Unix community, but it is not a platform to which all Unix users will migrate. Current users of Unix on Intel Corp. platforms are eagerly awaiting next year's anticipated arrival of Merced. But users who are doing fine on non-Intel platforms see no reason to pull up stakes.
Intel puts chip-set makers against the wall By Robert Lemos March 16, 1998 ZD Net News	With almost 72 percent of the market and a $20 hike rumored for its next set of logic chips, Intel Corp. looks ready to rake in the profits. Yet, rivals Acer Laboratories Inc., Silicon Integrated Systems Inc., and Via Technologies Inc. are raring to enter the market. All have potential Pentium II-compatible chip sets being tested by potential customers.
Wintel Watch Intel takes issue with yours truly By Alexander Wolfe March 13, 1998 EE Times	Making book on Merced could become my full-time occupation. Last Wintel Watch, I weighed in with some inside dope on the upcoming 64-bit microprocessor from Intel. I opined that Intel will have its hands full getting the yields up on the new, 0.18-micron CMOS process in which Merced will be fabricated. I noted that Merced's companion software compilers will be far more complex than anything in use today. And I said that Intel's plan to ship Merced in the second half of next year may be subject to delay.
Related Stories March 17, 1998
IDT Signs X86 Foundry Deal With IBM By Mark Hachman March 17, 1998 Electronic Buyer's News	In preparing to ramp up volume of its X86 WinChip microprocessors, Integrated Device Technology Inc. Tuesday secured a 0.25-micron foundry agreement with IBM Microelectronics Inc. Under a three-year agreement, IDT will secure access to IBM's 0.25-micron, 2.5 volt Blue Logic technology to manufacture current and future generations of WinChip processors on IBM's 8-inch wafer fab in Burlington, Vt. The capacity will not only be used as a hedge against future demand, but also to ease the transition of IDT's own 0.24-micron conversion at its new 8-inch production fab in Hillsboro, Ore. Currently, IDT's 0.25-micron production has been restricted to its fab in San Jose, also used for research.
Headlines March 16, 1998
IBM drops Cyrix processor By Michael Kanellos March 13, 1998 C/Net	Despite the fact that its microelectronics division makes the 6X86 processor, IBM has quietly dropped the chip from its Aptiva line of home PCs. IBM's migration from the chip, an Intel-compatible processor which is manufactured by IBM and marketed under the Cyrix and IBM brand names, is symbolic of the intensifying competition among Cyrix, Advanced Micro Devices, and Intel. "It's not great news," said Dean McCarron, principal analyst at Mercury Research. "I'm sure they represented a large percentage of sales."
Intel to shut out chip makers from Pentium II By Robert Lemos March 14, 1998 ZDNN	Risking further investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, Intel Corp. is preparing to shut out its rivals from competing in the huge secondary chip set market for Pentium II computers, said industry experts this week. "(Intel is) locking out a lot of competition and that's just bad for the market," said Peter Glaskowsky, senior analyst for semiconductor research firm MicroDesign Resources Inc.
Intel pressures vendors By Dan Briody March 13, 1998 InfoWorld Electric	When Intel's Mobile Pentium II processor debuts on April 2, the chip giant has promised a wide variety of form factors and price points from notebook vendors that plan to base systems on the chip. But some vendors are singing a slightly different tune. While Compaq, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, NEC, Toshiba, and others prepare notebooks based on the Mobile Pentium II, some find themselves unable to fulfill Intel's promises for the chip -- particularly that it will proliferate among high- and low-end notebooks alike. "We would love to make an inexpensive system based on the Pentium II, but the fact is that the chip is still too expensive," said one vendor official who asked to remain anonymous.
The Intel road map in short	Short version of the Intel driven PC development road map. People interested in other processor manufacturers will have to check with other sites. Dates may change before release, but this is the most current info available as of 1998-03-16.
Cyrix production snags hit National By Michael Kanellos March 13, 1998 C/Net	Although Cyrix helped create the sub-$1,000 PC, manufacturing and marketing problems as well as increased competition have thwarted its efforts to increase microprocessor sales--a situation that may have a lasting impact on parent company National Semiconductor. Cyrix's difficulties were brought into sharp relief yesterday during a conference call with National. Difficulties in producing adequate volumes of Cyrix processors, combined with the Asian financial crisis, produced lower-than-expected earnings for the parent corporation's third fiscal quarter.
Notebook PC makers line up for mobile Pentium II By John G. Spooner March 13, 1998 PC Week Online	The parade of vendors planning to introduce notebook PCs based on Intel Corp.'s upcoming mobile Pentium II processor keeps getting longer. Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Dell Computer Corp., Gateway 2000 Inc., Compaq Computer Corp. and Digital Equipment Corp. will join IBM, NEC Computer Systems and Hewlett-Packard Co. in introducing notebooks using the 233MHz and 266MHz mobile Pentium II processors that are set to debut on April 2.
Taiwan's Acer Creates Low-Cost, X86-Based PC Division By Sandy Chen March 13, 1998 Electronic Buyers' News	Acer has set up a division to promote and design its next-generation, low-cost PCs that could carry a price tag as low as $299. Acer's so-called XC Division will develop the company's "XC computers," an x86-based line of cheap PCs that will be introduced as early as this June, according to Stan Shih, chairman and CEO of the Taipei, Taiwan-based concern, in a recent interview. Acer's XC computers are easy-to-use, affordable systems designed for use in education, entertainment, and e-commerce, Shih said.
New Intel CPU kits add to PC overload By Lisa DiCarlo March 13, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel Corp. is developing a series of CPU packages for PC makers designed to speed the production of everything from 3-pound notebook PCs to eight-way servers. The kits will include the processor, chip set, motherboard, memory types, I/O interfaces and graphics buses. Intel's goal is to let PC makers offer more readily available, lower-priced systems. However, for some corporate users tired of Intel's rapid CPU treadmill and busy with larger enterprise issues, such as the year 2000 problem, more PC iterations are not a priority.
The 64-bit question Merced will level the OS field, but which ones will survive? By Claudia Graziano March 16, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel Corp.'s Merced architecture has created a brave new world of opportunity for Unix developers. Four primary Unix operating system vendors--Sun Microsystems Inc., SCO, Digital Equipment Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co.--are feverishly trying to position their respective Unix derivative as the standard environment for Merced, the first chip based on Intel's IA-64 server architecture.
Intel's dead-on support move By Peter Coffee March 13, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel wants to keep on selling complex, high-value microprocessors to an ever-expanding population of PC users. Its next target: the potential PC buyer who can't (or won't) even read. With today's announcement of its forthcoming AnswerExpress help center, Intel achieves two goals. First, it lowers a barrier to the entry of new customers into the PC market. Second, it continues its brilliantly successful strategy of turning PC manufacturers into commodity packagers of Intel's high-profile brand.
Headlines March 13, 1998
These cleanroom suits go on easy and reduce contamination risks By Staff Writer March 13, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Alpha Pro Tech here today announced a new line of cleanroom suits and apparel that is easier to put on and packaged to help reduce the risk of contamination. The company said its Easy-Donning cleanroom apparel is are pre-folded and packaged with interior surfaces turned outward to help eliminate the risk of touching and contaminating the outside of the garment. This can save time by making the suits easier to put on while avoiding contamination from contact with floors, for example. Alpha Pro Tech said patents are pending for the garment design, folding technique and packaging concept.
National Semi sales up, but profits slip; loss expected next quarter By Staff Writer March 13, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	National Semiconductor Corp. has reported net income of $22.3 million for its third fiscal 1998 quarter, including the one-time charge of $5.2 million pre-tax for in-process R&D related to the acquisition of audio compression technology from Gulbransen Corp. Excluding the charge, net income was $26.2 million, which is down from the $28.7 million figure for the year-ago quarter (as restated to exclude the gain related to the sale of Fairchild and to include the affects of the Cyrix Corp. acquisition in November 1997).
Headlines March 12, 1998
AMD presses to meet deadline for K6 3D chip By Lisa DiCarlo March 11, 1998 PC Week Online	Already plagued by yield problems, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) is pushing the envelope to reach its goal of delivering the K6 3D chip in the first half of this year. The Austin, Texas, company hoped to announce availability at next week's CeBIT trade show in Hannover, Germany, according to spokesman Dwayne Cox. But AMD is holding out for more application and OEM support, Cox said.
Tech Report: Cyrix's Blazing New CPU The newest processor from Cyrix has a power rating of 266, but it's likely to challenge even 300MHz Intel systems. By Jonathan Blackwood March 1, 1998 Windows Magazine	Cyrix Corp.'s new 6x86MX PR266 CPU produces the kind of price/performance numbers that will open some eyes-and maybe have Intel looking over its shoulder at this persistent competitor. WINDOWS Magazine put the chip-a high-end Socket 7 processor that uses Intel's MMX technology-through its paces, with excellent results. Cyrix is clearly pumped up and ready to try to muscle in on Intel. Expected to be a minor update with a slightly higher clock rate than the previous 6x86MX (the PR233), the 6x86MX PR266 is instead a chip capable of blistering performance on just about any task you can throw at it.
Muzzle Decree CeBIT: Intel keeps new developments under wraps By Staff Writer May 1998 C'T Magazine	Chip giant Intel is muzzling their OEMs for CeBIT. No details about the new generation of the Pentium II is the motto. Visitors are left with looking into the tube, in the true sense of the word. In an internal Intel paper that was available to c't, the manufacturer states what the public may and may not find out. For example Intel is going to display (apart from known technology) notebooks based on the Pentium II at their booth for the first time. However, everything beyond processor speed and size of the L2 cache is kept hidden from the curious visitor. A glance into the casing is prohibited.
Processor Whispers Intels Nightmare By Andreas Stiller May 1998 C'T Magazine	'My nightmare is to wake up one day and not sense any need for additional computing power', says Gordon Moore, Intels retired chairman. Oh dear, - you would think that Intels multimillionaires are more than content when going to bed, and then they wake up in the morning soaked in sweat from nightmares ... well, well, the paranoia.
Intel to build bridge to Merced By Andy Santoni March 10, 1998 InfoWorld Electric	Aiming to ease the transition from 32 to 64-bit CPUs, Intel next year will introduce an IA-32 processor that will fit into the same slot as the IA-64 Merced, according to an industry analyst. Quoting sources, Linley Gwennap, publisher and editor in chief of Microprocessor Report, in Sunnyvale, Calif., said the processor, code-named Tanner, "is designed to bridge the gap between the company's high-end x86 products and Merced." "Tanner, due to ship in 1999, is said to incorporate an x86 processor core, probably Katmai, along with an interface to the so-called Slot M interface that will be used by Merced," Gwennap explained.
Katmai goes dual mode By Ephraim Schwartz and Andy Santoni March 9, 1998 InfoWorld Electric	In a technical advance that promises to give users the best of both desktop and notebook computing, Intel is developing a mobile version of its next-generation Pentium II processor, code-name Katmai, that runs at almost desktop speeds when plugged in and at a slower speed when running off the battery. Due out late this year or early in 1999, the Katmai design will allow notebooks to run at 450 MHz when used as a replacement for a desktop running an operating system such as Windows NT when plugged into an electrical outlet, and it will throttle down to 350 MHz when used as a portable system, numerous industry sources said.
Wintel focuses on dumb terminals By C/Net Staff Writer March 11, 1998 C/Net	"Thin-client" computing, so named because the desktop unit often relies on a server computer for storage and even processing functions, first gained attention with the much-hyped network computer. But the Windows-based Terminal stepped into prominence this week--and, lacking the notoriety of the NC, these terminals are gaining momentum.
Related Stories March 12, 1998
Intel Enters PC Support Market with AnswerExpress By Kristen Kenedy March 11, 1998 Computer Retail Week	In an effort to make computing easier for home and SoHo users, Intel today is introducing AnswerExpress Support Suite, a new service package set to retail for $49.95 for three months of toll-free technical support, with a provision for a monthly subscription thereafter. The product is currently available at CompUSA, Computer City SuperCenter and CDW Computer Centers.
Intel expands Web-based support plan, tools By Andy Santoni March 11, 1998 InfoWorld Electric	Intel expanded its Web developer tool offerings Wednesday with products that aim to deliver animated effects and rich audio and video content to Web pages. The company also introduced AnswerExpress Support Suite, an Internet-based service that will deliver PC help, support, and protection to home-and small-business users. Intel Web Design Effects enables developers to quickly author animated effects such as fire, clouds, and neon plasma. The program outputs a single bitmap file and the performance of the effects depends on the end-user's system capabilities. The processor generates the effects on the client, which requires less bandwidth to deliver larger animated files.
Intel enters support biz By Margaret Kane March 11, 1998 ZD Net News	Intel Corp. has launched a new subscription-based service designed to a hold a consumer's hand through all the problems and maintenance duties that come with today's machines. The company will today announce its new AnswerExpress offering, an online service that provides users with online and phone-based help and support, as well as anti-virus software and online backups, all for a monthly fee.
Headlines March 11, 1998
Alternative Processors Propel January PC Sales By Roger C. Lanctot March 9, 1998 Computer Retail Week	PCs based on alternative processors are steadily pulling market share away from Intel chip-based systems, recent market research shows. According to audited retail sales data from Intelect ASW Marketing Services, PCs built with non-Intel microprocessors accounted for 36 percent of all desktop unit sales at retail in January. In first quarter 1997, Non-Intel-based PCs accounted for only 6 percent of retail desktop unit sales.
Intel unfolds road map for mobile PCs By Lisa DiCarlo March 10, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel Corp. is mapping out an end-of-decade strategy for building next-generation notebooks that will make the company's April 2 portable Pentium II rollout seem like small potatoes. The series of initiatives include breakthroughs in power consumption and battery life under the code name Geyserville, a high-performance platform code-named Colfax, new packaging and processors for mininotebooks and other thin systems, and integrated processors for low-cost Basic Mobile PCs, said sources close to Intel.
Intel: The refined game plan By Lisa DiCarlo March 9, 1998 PC Week Online	As Intel Corp. braces for a serious downturn in its first-quarter revenue, its product groups are developing technologies designed to spike demand for the company's next-generation processors. Those technologies include motherboard packages to help OEMs build two-, four- or eight-processor servers and a processor, code-named Tanner, for making the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit computing, sources said.
Intel takes on PC support service By Michael Kanellos March 10, 1998 C/Net	Taking on a job usually reserved for computer manufacturers, Intel (INTC) is moving into the help desk business with a service that provides small businesses and consumers with technical support and information to make PCs easier to use. Ease of use is a critical issue as Intel and the rest of the industry struggle to drive up sales of personal computers, historically notorious for being vexing to novice users.
Intel unfolds road map for mobile PCs By Lisa DiCarlo March 10, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel Corp. is mapping out an end-of-decade strategy for building next-generation notebooks that will make the company's April 2 portable Pentium II rollout seem like small potatoes. The series of initiatives, which fall under the umbrella code name Geyserville, include breakthroughs in power consumption and battery life, a high-performance platform code-named Colfax, new packaging and processors for mininotebooks and other thin systems, and integrated processors for low-cost Basic Mobile PCs, said sources close to Intel.
Headlines March 10, 1998
Acer Labs, Via challenge Intel with chip sets for Socket-7 By Mark Carroll March 9, 1998 EE Times	PC core-logic chip sets from two suppliers are jumping in to compete with Intel Corp. in powering systems that use a 100-MHz processor bus. But the push to faster systems raises significant design issues, and it's not clear whether developers will be able to keep pace with Intel's strides in speed. Via Technologies Inc. and Acer Laboratories Inc. (ALI) recently released chip sets supporting upcoming processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Cyrix Corp. that use a 100-MHz external bus with a Socket-7 connector. For its part, Intel plans to launch in May its Deschutes processor and BX chip set. BX also supports a 100-MHz external processor bus, but one that uses an Intel proprietary Slot 1 connector.
Cache Strategies Key to Future CPUs On-Chip L2 Cache to Become Widespread by 1999 By Michael Slater March 9, 1998 Microprocessor Report	In the PC microprocessor market, the biggest changes this year will be not in the CPU cores but in the cache subsystems. Driven by the need for higher cache bandwidth at low cost, and enabled by 0.25-micron process technology, all the x86 suppliers except Cyrix have announced plans for processors with on-chip L2 caches. These caches will be essential to extending the life of Socket 7. Intel was the first x86 supplier (not counting NexGen's ill-fated 586) to boost L2 cache bandwidth with a dedicated cache bus, first with Pentium Pro and then with Pentium II. Both processors use off-chip, but in-module, L2 caches. This was essential in 0.35-micron technology, and even in a 0.25-micron process, it enables Intel to provide relatively large caches. By putting the processor chip and the L2 cache in a module, Intel is free to use various L2 cache architectures without affecting the motherboard design.
Myths About the Sub-$1,000 PC Segment Will Remain Small, Providing Some Foothold for Intel's Competitors By Linley Gwennap March 9, 1998 Microprocessor Report	The emergence of the sub-$1,000 PC market reflects an inexorable trend toward less-expensive systems that will surely doom Intel in the long run. You could easily be convinced of this argument by the blizzard of recent stories on low-cost PCs. These stories, however, are based on myths, not facts, and the emergence of this new market is not likely to upset the status quo. Myth: Sub-$1,000 PCs represent up to 40% of the PC market. This gem is based on misinterpretations of a survey by Computer Intelligence (a sister company of ours) that shows an increasing percentage of PC sales below $1,000 during the course of 1997. Sales in this category peaked at nearly 40% in August, but this survey measures only the U.S. retail desktop PC market, which represents less than 10% of the worldwide PC market and has specific characteristics that make it unusually receptive to sub-$1,000 PCs.
PC inventory 'blip' causing Intel's problems, says researcher By Staff Writer March 9, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Despite Intel Corp.'s warning that slow PCs sales are eroding its first-quarter revenues, demand for personal computers remains strong and the chip giant appears to have fallen victim to an inventory blip caused by aggressive "channel stuffing" by system makers at the end of 1997, according to Computer Intelligence. The La Jolla, Calif.-based market research firm said 1998 started out with a strong January in terms of retail PC sales. The company's StoreBoard channel-tracking indices shows retail PC sales were up 35% and dealer channel sales up almost 10% in January compared to the same month a year ago (see index below).
Intel's Celeron Aims at Sub-$1,000 PCs By Staff Writer March 9, 1998 Windows Magazine	Get used to the name Celeron--it's likely to be bandied about quite a lot very soon. No, it's not a new celery root-based anti-aging cream or a planet in the forthcoming Star Wars prequel; it's Intel's brand name for a family of Pentium II processors aimed squarely at the exploding market for sub-$1,000 PCs. Celeron Pentium II processors are expected to appear in new PCs in April or May, according to Intel executives. Because the new brand lacks secondary cache, the processors cost less than conventional Pentium IIs in Slot 1 cartridges (which include 512KB of secondary cache hardwired to the processor). The savings will--hopefully--be passed on to consumers in the form of a new class of PCs marketed to home and some business users.
SRAM makers move to strengthen their positions By Anthony Cataldo March 9, 1998 EE Times	Hard hit by persistently low sales revenue for SRAMs, Silicon Valley-based Cypress Semiconductor Corp. and Paradigm Technology Inc. have announced that they will take draconian measures to become profitable again with memory devices. Cypress Semiconductor said it will take a $85 million charge against first quarter earnings and lay off about 100 workers. The company will also convert all of its SRAM production to 0.35-micron, 8-inch wafers and relocate some of its back-end test and facility operations in the Far East.
Digital looks to Sequent, Intel By Brooke Crothers March 9, 1998 C/Net	Digital Equipment (DEC) will get next-generation servers based on Intel's upcoming 64-bit Merced chip from Sequent Computer, another indication that Digital is inching toward Intel's 64-bit future. Digital also makes high-end computers based on its own 64-bit Alpha processor. Sequent will become Digital's sole supplier of Merced-based servers for a high-end Unix operating system architecture called NUMA, or Non-Uniform Memory Access.
Headlines March 9, 1998
Intel reveals how Merced will retain X86 compatibility By Alexander Wolfe March 9, 1998 EE Times	A just-issued patent and new information from Intel Corp. provide fresh insight into a technical mystery surrounding the company's upcoming Merced microprocessor. The question: how Intel plans to ensure that the 64-bit Merced CPU can also run 32-bit software written for X86 chips like Pentium. Some experts have speculated that Intel would use software translation. Others foresaw on-chip conversion via hardware. But Intel has told EE Times that it will go one step further in Merced--using direct execution to run 32-bit instructions, known as IA-32, on its IA-64 Epic (explicitly parallel instruction computing) architecture.	Related Stories Intel patent provides a peek inside Merced
Intel warns Pentium II chip set makers By Anthony Cataldo March 6, 1998 EE Times	Suppliers preparing PC chip sets for Pentium II systems could face legal action from Intel Corp., which has vowed to protect intellectual property it says is necessary for the chip sets. Three suppliers have announced plans for Pentium II chip sets, but none has obtained a license for Intel's intellectual property, according to Intel. "Intel has a series of patents for associated with the P6 bus and that is intellectual property we will protect," said a spokesman for Intel (Santa Clara, Calif.). "None of the vendors announced to date have a patent license to sell chip sets for Pentium II processors."
Intel plans server bundles By Lisa DiCarlo March 9, 1998 PC Week Online	As Intel Corp. braces for a serious downturn in its first-quarter revenue, its product groups are developing technologies designed to spike demand for the company's next-generation processors. Those technologies include motherboard packages to help OEMs build two-, four- or eight-processor servers and a processor, code-named Tanner, for making the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit computing, sources said. The projects are geared to helping OEMs build enterprise systems based on new processors more quickly and for less money.	Related Stories Chip battles heat up with the desktop Intel uses smart integration for low-cost PCs Latest Pentium II only marginally faster Intel's Road to Merced
Gigabit bus carries Intel into communications territory By Rick Boyd-Merritt March 9, 1998 EE Times	Even as Intel Corp. prepares to roll out its first silicon supporting the 64-bit, 66-MHz version of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), it has foreseen the end of the line for PCI in its highest-end systems. But the processor giant hopes to parlay PCI's phaseout into an opportunity to design an interconnect that would not only push its PC servers deeper into the territory of high-performance computing but could also open Intel processors and server subsystems to new market realms.
Intel Shares Drop 13 percent By Warren S. Hersch March 5, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Industry bellwether Intel Corp.'s shares fell 13 percent Thursday to close at $75.63, down from the $86.44 at which the stock price closed Wednesday. Intel's stock dropped in the wake of a company announcement of lower-than-expected earnings. On Wednesday, Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., said revenue for its first quarter, to be announced April 14, should drop 10 percent from the $6.5 billion posted in the fourth quarter of 1997.
Headlines March 6, 1998
Microsoft, Intel seek Unix software By Reuters March 6, 1998 C/Net	Microsoft and Intel will announce new incentives today aimed at getting software developers to shift their efforts to Windows NT from rival Unix systems. Anand Chandrasekhar, general manager of Intel's workstation products division, said the Migration Assistance Plan was aimed at speeding the shift of high-end engineering programs to systems that use Intel's processing architecture and the Windows NT operating system.
No quick fixes for chipmakers By Michael Kanellos March 5, 1998 C/Net	The causes are many and the cures don't look easy. That's the consensus among analysts examining yesterday's announcements from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices that revenue and earnings would be lower than expected for the first quarter. Overall, the main culprit appears to be the sub-$1,000 computer. For both companies, customer preference for lower-priced computers with cheaper processors have led to lower profits, and sales volume has failed to offset the declines.	Related Stories Intel to fall 10% below mark Intel, Microsoft pull Nasdaq down Global markets respond to Intel
Global markets respond to Intel By Susan Countryman March 5, 1998 C/Net	Stock markets around the world plummeted yesterday night and this morning in response to giant chipmaker Intel's surprise warning of lower-than-expected earnings, announced yesterday. Markets from Japan to Hungary to Ireland--and technology stocks especially--dropped on the news of the chip giant's setback. Korea and Hong Kong markets both fell sharply after Intel's announcement, with 6.5 percent and 4.8 percent drops, respectively, but other Asian markets weren't affected as severely.	Related Stories Intel to fall 10% below mark Intel, Microsoft pull Nasdaq down No quick fixes for chipmakers
Fastest PCs, Intel chip get cuts By Michael Kanellos March 5, 1998 C/Net	Intel's fastest Pentium II chips are now being found in systems costing as little as $1,360, while a price cut on the fastest of Intel's processors is expected later this month. The low price points highlight Intel's announcement that earnings and revenues will be below expectations for the first quarter. (See related coverage)
Related Stories March 6, 1998
Post-Christmas indigestion By Charles Cooper March 5, 1998 PC-Week	If current trends persist, Intel Corp. may want to change its marketing slogan from "Intel Inside" to "Intel on the shelves." That's because many resellers, who piled up inventory in advance of a big fourth quarter, are still tying to get rid of unsold computers -- and their inability to clear out older systems is coming back to haunt the world's largest supplier of microprocessors. Shares of Intel (INTC) plunged 12 1/2 percent to $75.63 after the company said late Wednesday its sales and earnings for the current quarter would be below expectations because of sluggish demand for personal computers.
Techs rebound, still down By ZDNN Staff March 5, 1998 PC-Week	It was ugly but it could have been a lot worse. Technology stocks trimmed their losses Thursday, recovering after an earnings warning by the world's largest computer chip maker, Intel Corp., spooked the market. Shares of Intel Corp. (INTC) topped a one-day trading volume record with 68.3 million shares exchanging hands.
Tech Stocks Get Hammered On Intel Profit Warning By Gabrielle Jonas March 5, 1998 TechInvestor	Technology stocks were hammered Thursday as markets around the world were spooked by Intel's first quarter profit warning. Intel said after market close Wednesday that earnings and revenue would be below expectations. That warning triggered a sell-off in the international markets overnight, and the domestic markets did not fare any better. The technology-laden Nasdaq swooned 47.78 to 1711.92, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 94.16 to 8445.08.
Intel Drags Markets Down By Gabrielle Jonas March 5, 1998 TechInvestor	Technology stocks dropped precipitously early Thursday as markets around the world panicked on news that Intel's first quarter revenue would be below fourth quarter revenue of $6.5 billion. The Nasdaq swooned 36.80 to 1722.90, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average accelerated Wednesday's slump, dropping 64.27 to 8474.97 at midday. Intel [INTC] shares plummeted 10 to 76 7/16, a drop of 12 percent, on volume of 47 million shares.
IC Industry Stocks Experience Drop By Warren S. Hersch March 5, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Intel Corp.'s stock price dropped precipitously this week in the wake of a company announcement that it will achieve lower-than-expected earnings. Thursday morning, Intel was trading at $76.88 on volume of 34,270,600 shares, an 11 percent drop from the $86.44 at which the stock price closed yesterday.
Headlines March 5, 1998
Intel names "Celeron'' chip for sub-$1,000 PCs By Associated Press March 5, 1998 San Jose Mercury News	First there was Intel's Pentium. Now the world's largest chip-making company wants computer users to remember a similarly cryptic name for its first new brand of PC microprocessors in five years. Say hello to Celeron. Intel Corp. on Wednesday christened a much-awaited line of low-cost microprocessors with the made-up word, Celeron, with plans to start selling the chips as the brains in low-cost personal computers this summer.	See Today's Related Stories
Cloudy future for Intel's new chip By Michael Kanellos March 4, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) will introduce its first microprocessor specifically designed for low-end computers next month under a curious new brand name: "Celeron." But while a few vendors such as NEC Computer Systems will immediately release business PCs built around the chip, the initial version will likely receive a lukewarm reception.
Celeron, take me away By Michael Kanellos March 5, 1998 C/Net	Celeron is here. Say it and be damned! The new chip brand, announced yesterday, is the first "consumer" computer processor from Intel. Based on the Pentium II core, Celeron is designed to be a low-cost, low-power chip for cheap PCs, a development that will be likely be followed by a Celeron family of chips for home servers and small computerized devices. Another class of processors with its own fancy name will follow for high-end servers and workstations.
Intel drops bombshell on revenue outlook By Tom Quinlan March 4, 1998 Mercury News Staff Writer	Industry bellwether Intel Corp. issued a warning that shook the high-tech industry Wednesday, projecting that its revenues for the first quarter of 1998 would be 10 percent less than expected. Even more alarming was the Santa Clara chip giant's inability to identify a reason for the dramatic drop in sales. That immediately fueled fears the industry is headed toward a broad-based slowdown.	See Today's Related Stories
AMD warns of significant decline By Suzanne Galante March 4, 1998 C/Net	Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) warned today that its first-quarter results will "decline significantly." AMD's stock lost 1-7/16 on the news, to 21-3/8, down from yesterday's close of 22-13/16. The company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it expects revenues in the first quarter of 1998 "to decline significantly, and the net loss to increase significantly as compared to the fourth quarter of 1997."	See Today's Related Stories
AMD's window of opportunity By Michael Kanellos March 4, 1998 C/Net	Advanced Micro Devices is hoping to gain ground on Intel even as it continues to grapple with manufacturing problems and widening financial losses. Like other firms in the computer industry, AMD is counting on the low-cost PC for a chance to gain market share. The company believes that providing inexpensive chips for low-margin systems is the path to improved fortunes.
Intel, Microsoft pull Nasdaq down By Reuters March 5, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) and Microsoft (MSFT) combined to pull the Nasdaq index down 50 points shortly after trading opened today. The Nasdaq soon firmed a bit but remained down 42 points at 7:18 a.m. ET, with Intel off almost 10 points at 76 in unusually heavy trading. Intel late yesterday issued an earnings warning that spooked the technology sector. Microsoft was off 2-11/16 at 79-5/8, and Dell Computer (DELL) fell 4-3/8 to 134-1/2.
Chip giant's thrust into low and medium market sectors raises questions Intel moves deeper inside networking arena Ann R. Thryft and Craig Matsumoto March 4, 1998 EE Times	Intel Corp.'s move last week into the low and medium sectors of networking equipment raises important questions for that segment of the market and sets the stage for major shifts in both its size and characteristics as well as the types of products it will have available over the next few years. Among other things, industry observers wonder how many market segments Intel will end up participating in and whether the company will compete with its own networking customers.
Intel Gets Ready To Slash Price Of Fastest Pentium By Kelly Spang March 4, 1998 Computer Reseller News	By the middle of this month, value-added resellers (VARs) can expect Intel to drop the price of its fastest Pentium II by almost 20 percent. Traditionally, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel lowers its processor prices at the start of each quarter. However, the company may adjust specific processor prices during the quarter, as well, according to industry sources familiar with Intel's plans.
JEDEC Approves SLDRAM Pinout Specification Staff Writer March 4, 1998 Electronic Buyer's News	SLDRAM Inc. on Wednesday said that the SLDRAM packaging pinout specification has been granted full approval by the Solid State Engineering Counsel of JEDEC, the international standards body for semiconductor packaging. SLDRAM, formerly called the SLDRAM Consortium, is an open, non-profit corporation that is aiming to cooperatively develop an open DRAM specification with the largest memory capacity at the lowest possible cost. JEDEC packaging approval is the latest step in meeting market demand for next-generation, open-architecture DRAM designs, SLDRAM said, and standardization through JEDEC is a critical step in ensuring a high volume of DRAM products from multiple sources.
Related Stories March 5, 1998
Intel's cheap Pentium II: Celeron By Brooke Crothers March 4, 1998 C/Net	Intel (INTC) announced today it will have a new brand name--Celeron--for a processor designed for low-cost PCs. Low-cost personal computers, or what Intel calls "Basic PCs," are typically priced at or below the $1,000 level. Intel's Celeron processor is based upon the P6 architecture, the same one that forms the foundation for its Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors.
"Celeron" To Be Intel's First Shot At Segmentation By Kelly Spang March 4, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Intel annointed its low-end processors Wednesday with the brand name "Celeron," beginning its segmentation strategy for its Pentium II processor. As promised two weeks ago by chairman and chief executive officer Andrew S. Grove at the Intel Developers Forum, the company is launching a campaign to brand its Pentium II processors for specific market segments.
Intel calls entry MPU 'Celeron' Staff Writer March 4, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Intel Corp. today revealed the new "Celeron" brand name for a P6-based microprocessor that's under development for low-cost PCs. Later this year, Intel said it plans to introduce another brand name for new processors aimed at enterprise servers and workstations. The existing Pentium II name will continue to be used for Intel processors aimed at the mainstream "performance PC" segment as well as the enthusiast and professional systems users.
Intel Announces Celeron™ as the Latest Brand to Join Intel Inside® Program Staff Writer March 4, 1998 Intel Corporation	Celeron To Be the New Brand Name for Basic PC Processors Intel Corporation today announced that it will have a new brand name, Celeron™, for a processor that will be designed for Basic PCs. Basic PCs meet the core needs and affordability requirements common to many new PC users. Intel’s Celeron processor - based upon the same Intel P6 microarchitecture on which the Pentium® II processor is based - will offer a cost-effective solution for PC manufacturers designing Basic PC systems.
Intel predicts lower first-quarter earnings By Associated Press March 4, 1998 San Jose Mercury News	Intel Corp.'s first-quarter earnings will fall below the company's previous projections because of weaker orders for its computer chips, the company said Wednesday. Intel's stock sank 11 percent in after hours trading. The announcement from the world's largest chip maker and a bellwether of technology shares came after stock markets closed. The gloomy could ripple throughout the entire market on Thursday.
Intel to fall 10% below mark By Michael Kanellos and Dawn Yoshitake March 4, 1998 C/Net	Intel's (INTC) revenues and profits will fall well below expectations of a quarter already predicted to be relatively slow, the company announced today. Weaker-than-expected demand from computer vendors caused Intel to revise its forecast for the first quarter. In after-hours trading, Intel's shares plunged by 10 points to 76-7/8. The preliminary warning came after the market closed; Intel ended the day at 86-7/16, up 1-1/8 over yesterday.
Intel Says First Quarter Hampered By Weak Demand By Larry Dignan March 04, 1998 TechInvestor	Intel said Wednesday that its first quarter revenue and profits would fall short of expectations because of weaker-than-anticipated demand from PC manufacturers. Analysts were expecting Intel [INTC] to report earnings of 93 cents a share in the quarter. Intel shares closed at 86 7/16 on Wednesday ahead of the announcement. Intel had said first quarter revenue would be flat with fourth quarter revenue of $6.5 billion.
Intel Warns Of Weak First Quarter By Kelly Spang March 4, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Blaming weak OEM demand, Intel Corp. warned its first quarter revenue will likely be 10 percent below expectations. At the close its fiscal year, Intel executives projected first quarter revenue would be flat compared to fourth quarter revenue of $6.5 billion. The company has now revised its projections, suggesting revenues and net income will fall short of initial expectations. Wall Street expectations are that Intel will earn 93 cents per share for the first quarter, down from the $1.10 for the same quarter last year and 98 cents per share for the fourth quarter, according to First Call Corp.
Intel says Q1 revenues will be 10% lower than Q4 Staff Writer March 4, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Intel Corp. here today warned that its first quarter revenues and net income will be lower than expected results because of weaker than expected demand for personal computers during the first three months of 1998. The news is not what the chip industry wants to hear as it continues to struggle with the impact of the Asian financial crisis and a production glut in many IC segments, in particular DRAMs.
Techs slump after Intel drops earnings bombshell By Charles Cooper March 4, 1998 ZD Net News	Hammer time. Tech analysts battened down the hatches in anticipation of a big sell-off in computer stocks Thursday following the surprise warning by Intel Corp. that first-quarter sales and earnings will be lower-than-expected. The company, citing weaker PC demand, said first-quarter revenue would fall 10 percent from the $6.5 billion chalked up during the fourth quarter. Intel also said its profit margins would weaken.
Intel scales back projections for Q1 By Tom Schmidt March 4, 1998 PC Week Online	Intel Corp. said today that revenue and earnings for its first quarter will fall below expectations. The Santa Clara, Calif., chip maker attributed the shortfall to weaker-than-anticipated demand from PC makers. Intel said it now expects first-quarter revenues to be about 10 percent below fourth-quarter revenues of $6.5 billion. The company anticipates gross profit margins to be approximately 53 percent of revenues.
Intel, AMD Issue Investors Warnings By Mark Hachman March 4, 1998 Electronic Buyer's News	Both Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices warned investors Wednesday that their upcoming quarterly results would not meet expectations. Citing a lack of OEM demand, Intel Corp. warned that its revenue for the first quarter 1998 would be about 10% lower than the $6.5 billion the company recorded in the fourth quarter 1997, or about $5.85 billion. For undisclosed reasons, AMD also stated that its revenue and net income should fall even further than they had in the fourth quarter of 1997.
Advanced Micro Devices Warns Of Another Loss By Mark Hachman March 6, 1998 Semiconductor Business News	Advanced Micro Devices said it expects to suffer a loss in the first quarter. AMD's warning came at the same time its rival Intel also said it expected lower-than-anticipated revenues and earnings in the first quarter because of slow sales of PCs by its microprocessor customers. For undisclosed reasons, Sunnyvale, Calif.-based AMD said its revenue and net income should fall further than they had in the fourth quarter of 1997. In January, AMD reported a fourth quarter net loss of $12.3 million on sales of $613.2 million. The company said the loss was partly the result of poor production yields on its K6 microprocessors. In its warnings about the lower-than-expected results for the current quarter, AMD did not address specifics about its K6 processor yields.
Updated March 4, 1998
Intel's Merced alters landscape By Michael Kanellos March 3, 1998 C/Net	When the 64-bit Merced processor from Intel (INTC) arrives in the second half of 1999, expect to see a number of major changes, including a wider choice of operating systems, chips that bridge 32- and 64-bit computing, processors eventually racing at speeds beyond 1,000 MHz, and a new a "slot" architecture. To ease users into the chip's 64-bit next generation, Intel is preparing a 32-bit Pentium II processor that will fit into the new Merced package, sources said.
Intel Pushes Notebooks Toward Sub-$1,000 Hot Spot By Rick Boyd-Merritt March 3, 1998 EE Times	Prices on notebook computers must come down if the mobile computer industry is to continue its growth, said an Intel executive at the Mobile Insights conference this week. But Intel is not yet ready to detail all of its plans to push notebooks into the so-called segment zero -- the sub-$1,000 market hot spot pioneered by desktop PCs last year. "With the exception of preliminary numbers from the fourth quarter of last year, mobile computer sales have been flat," said Stephen Nachtsheim, general manager of Intel's Mobile/Handheld Products Group. That's due in part to the fact that desktop prices have plummeted in the past year, while notebooks have remained at a premium, he said. Part of Nachtsheim's prescription for the stagnant market is a strong dose of lower system prices.
Intel To Chip Away At Pentium Price By Kelly Spang March 3, 1998 Computer Reseller News	By the middle of this month, VARs can expect Intel Corp. to drop the price of its fastest Pentium II by almost 20 percent. Traditionally, Intel lowers its processor prices at the start of each quarter. However, Intel may adjust specific processor prices during the quarter as well, according to industry sources familiar with Intel's plans.
Katmai, Willamette on the horizon Kelly Spang March 2, 1998 Computer Reseller News	Intel Corp.'s new IA-64 architecture is destined to replace the company's current cash-cow X86 processors, but it may take a while. Before the transition to 64-bit processors, VARs can expect at least two more x86 generations-code-named Katmai and Willamette-to succeed the Pentium II.
Updated March 3, 1998
AMD may get copper technology from IBM By Anthony Cataldo March 3, 1998 EE Times	While IBM Corp.'s recent agreement with Advanced Micro Devices Inc. was properly described as a means for AMD to gain much-needed foundry capacity, the partnership could also allow AMD to gain access to IBM's groundbreaking copper-interconnect technology, which AMD could use in future processors, the companies said. AMD has its own copper-interconnect R&D efforts under way, but a company spokesman said AMD hasn't ruled out working with IBM. "We're in agreement [about] the wave of the future. If you want to stay in this game as a volume manufacturer, you'll need copper," he said. "We will continue to talk about other opportunities, and moving forward we'll do whatever is in the best interest of the two companies."
Pentium II Microcode VS. System Performance Staff Writer AOpen	Recently, many Intel 440LX chipset based AGP motherboards have been reviewed intensely by PC magazines through out the world. Almost all the reviewers were strongly impressed by its outstanding performance readings and appreciated new features of Accelerator Graphic Port (AGP) that it brings in. In almost all the comparison tests, they adopted the most popular benchmark software, Winstone 97 and Winbench 97, to evaluate system performances. Here, pay a little attention to the test results below and you will find something interesting: Winstone 97 has shown minor differences among motherboards of different manufacturers, but Winbench 97 generates much more significant differences on readings in the viewpoint of performance comparison.
Updated March 2, 1998
IBM deal no panacea for AMD By Michael Kanellos February 27, 1998 C/Net	While a new manufacturing alliance with IBM will certainly help Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) meet demand for its K6 processors, a number of hurdles remain in the path to greater acceptance. Chief among these is the question of whether more major computer vendors can and will expand the market for AMD technology. AMD already has deals with Compaq and IBM to supply chips to their respective low-end consumer models, but although these relationships could expand, neither company has committed to using the K6 in the lucrative business PC segment.	Related Stories IBM, AMD shake on chip deal AMD strikes foundry pact with IBM AMD nabs IBM chip deal
AMD nabs IBM chip deal By Charles Cooper February 27, 1998 ZD Net News	Advanced Micro Devices Inc., looking to resolve a nagging production logjam, Friday announced that IBM will help it manufacture K6 microprocessors. Under terms of the two-year deal, IBM (IBM) will make AMD's K6, a low-priced competitor to Intel Corp.'s (INTC) Pentium II processor line. The deal comes as AMD (AMD) continues to struggle to increase supply amid strong demand for the K6 even after investing heavily in a new plant in Austin, Texas.
Much Ado About Deschutes	Without much ado, Intel has added two instructions to their Deschutes line of Pentium-IIs, but contrary to early suspicions, the new code is not part of the 70 floating-point instructions set for MMX2 which are designed to enhance 3D graphics performance. MMX2 is still slated to debut in Intel’s Katmai CPU next year.

x86 Monthly News

Collected By Robert R. Collins

March 1998

Years of preparation preceded transition Q & A With Andy Grove

Line of Succession The Paranoia Continues

Merced tempts some But other Unix users are undecided about making the leap

Wintel Watch Intel takes issue with yours truly

The 64-bit question Merced will level the OS field, but which ones will survive?

Tech Report: Cyrix's Blazing New CPU The newest processor from Cyrix has a power rating of 266, but it's likely to challenge even 300MHz Intel systems.

Muzzle Decree CeBIT: Intel keeps new developments under wraps

Processor Whispers Intels Nightmare

Cache Strategies Key to Future CPUs On-Chip L2 Cache to Become Widespread by 1999

Myths About the Sub-$1,000 PC Segment Will Remain Small, Providing Some Foothold for Intel's Competitors

Years of preparation preceded transition
Q & A With Andy Grove

Line of Succession
The Paranoia Continues

Merced tempts some
But other Unix users are undecided about making the leap

Wintel Watch
Intel takes issue with yours truly

The 64-bit question
Merced will level the OS field, but which ones will survive?

Tech Report: Cyrix's Blazing New CPU
The newest processor from Cyrix has a power rating of 266, but it's likely to challenge even 300MHz Intel systems.

Muzzle Decree
CeBIT: Intel keeps new developments under wraps

Processor Whispers
Intels Nightmare

Cache Strategies Key to Future CPUs
On-Chip L2 Cache to Become Widespread by 1999

Myths About the Sub-$1,000 PC
Segment Will Remain Small, Providing Some Foothold for Intel's Competitors