Intel plans to increase the proportion of its 3 series chipsets for desktop PCs while decreasing those of 965 chipsets in third quarter, and will slowly phase 965 chipsets out of the market. However, 945 series chipsets will stay for the entry-level market, according to sources at motherboard makers.
Two of Intel"s 3 series chipsets, P35 and G33, will account for around 15% of total shipments by the end of the second quarter, while the proportion of the whole 3 series will increase to 38% after the launch of the currently unreleased X38, G35 and G31 in the third quarter. 965 chipset proportions will drop to 10% in the third quarter, noted the sources. Intel plans to let its 945GC chipset account for around 50% of total shipments by the end of the second quarter and slowly drop to around 38% in the first quarter of 2008. The company also plans to adjust the chipset"s price in 1000-unit tray quantities from US$29 to US$25 in the third quarter, noted the sources.