Intel's Springdale chipsets are set to beat Taiwanese competitors to shipment, with small-volume releases as early as the first quarter of 2003 and motherboards based on the chipsets shipping by the second quarter, according to Taiwanese motherboard makers.
Taiwanese chipset designers VIA Technologies and Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) may not enter volume production of their dual-channel DDR400-supporting, 800MHz FSB (front-side bus) chipsets – the PT600 and 655FX, respectively – until the second quarter.
Typically, VIA and SiS enjoy a honeymoon period of profits before Intel launches comparable products, after which increased competition drives down prices. According to development roadmaps at Intel and downstream motherboard makers, this time Intel will preempt the competition.
According to Intel's roadmap, it will initially quote the integrated Springdale-G chipset at US$41. The discrete Springdale-PE will be priced at US$36 and the Springdale-G at US$33. Intel's new Canterwood chipsets, featuring a "turbo mode" overclocking function, will be quoted at a record US$50.
News source: DigiTimes via Winbeta.org
