Event
Summary
Timna, Intel's first so-called "Smart Integration" microprocessor, will
be delayed until early 2001.
The
delay comes in the heels of related problems with Intel's 820 chipset.
Most recently, Intel announced a recall of 820-based motherboards using
a memory translator hub (MTH) to connect SDRAM memory. [See also
Intel Faces 820 Chipset Problems (Again).] The Timna delay is related
to the MTH problems - an Intel spokesman announced that the chipmaker
would design an all-new MTH.
Separately,
Intel has indicated that it will no longer support SDRAM for the 820 chipset,
recommending the 815 chipset instead. [TEC had predicted this earlier
in the year.]
Market
Impact
Timna was originally scheduled for late 2000 release. It was conceived
as a computer-on-a-chip, integrating processing, I/O, audio, video, and
edge connections. Obviously, even Intel can't get everything on one chip,
not yet, anyway.
The
market winner here is AMD, whose Duron value-line processor is already
available and shipping. This means that Intel's current value PC strategy
- Celeron processors - will remain in place until next year.
User
Recommendations
Expect even deeper discounts that usual at year-end. It's still a competitive
market, with Duron and Celeron battling for the low end. The looming prospect
of an early 2001 Timna release, combined with yearend inventory pressures,
should depress prices in this segment at least 5% by year end (80% likelihood).