Gigabyte Technology, one of Taiwan"s top four motherboard makers, has launched 10 entry- to mid-level motherboards, aiming at the same market as the X-series from industry leader Asustek Computer, sources said. Gigabyte"s new models, the RZ-series lineup, are built using a range of chipsets from Intel, VIA Technologies and Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS), and all of them support Intel"s 90nm Prescott processors.
The RZ series, with prices around US$60, target the same market as Asustek"s X-series motherboards, said the sources. Four RZ models are currently posted on the company"s website, and company sources expects RZ boards will hit retailers" shelves starting mid-March. Gigabyte also plans to officially launch a second, entry-level motherboard brand in the second quarter. The company"s subsidiary Gigatrend will handle the operations of the sub-brand, and it has yet to decide the name of the new brand. Sources indicated that Gigabyte"s sub-brand is aiming at Asustek"s second brand, the ASRock.