Intel 820 Chipset Delays Again, Again, Again…

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.

SOURCE:http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/intel-820-chipset-delays-again-again-again-15918/