Price competition for entry-level motherboards is expected to intensify in the third quarter as some of Taiwan"s second-tier makers, including Biostar Microtech International and Jetway Information, plan to introduce new boards with ASPs (average selling prices) below US$35 in June, according to sources at the makers. New models offered by Biostar and Jetway are aiming to compete with the newly launched Axper-branded boards from Gigatrend Technology, a subsidiary of Gigabyte Technology, said the sources.
With designs and chipsets similar to those at ASRock-branded boards, the five Axper-branded motherboards available in the market now are priced at US$35 to US$39, the sources said. The ASRock-branded boards carry an ASP below US$40. Two of the current Axper-branded boards use Intel"s 845 series chipsets, while the three remaining models use chipsets from VIA Technologies, said the sources. However, three Axper-branded motherboards support Intel"s Pentium 4 processor and two others support AMD"s K7 processor. Jetway"s new motherboards will use chipsets from Taiwanese chipmakers, the sources said.