Intel delays launch of 820 chip set again
The company had scheduled to launch the chip set Monday, but has now delayed it indefinitely.
In tests of the chip set, Intel (Nasdaq:INTC) experienced memory errors when specific configurations of the chip set were run under heavy strain. Intel decided to delay the introduction while it works to identify the causes of the errors, sources said.
PC makers were informed of the delay Thursday night. They say, however, that Intel did not specifically state the reason for the pull back.
Compaq to delay support
Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE:CPQ), for example, had planned to announce support for the chip set Monday and introduce systems with it in October.
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"If Intel delays, we have to delay ... and it's not just us. It's everybody who was going to have the chip set in their machines," he said.
A Dell Computer Corp. (Nasdaq:DELL) spokesman said that the Round Rock, Texas, PC maker will not ship 820 chip set-based PCs in the near future, "because we don't belive that the technology is to production level."
Intel would not comment on the situation. However, an 820 chip set briefing tentatively scheduled for today with ZDNN has been canceled.
Other Intel intros still on track
Intel, sources said, will go ahead with its plans to introduce its Intel 810E chip set and 533MHz and 600MHz Pentium III chips that support a 133MHz bus.
It appears, sources said, that the latest delay is for a similar reason.
The 820 will step up performance by adding a 133MHz bus, 4X AGP along with support for Rambus Direct RAM and the ATA66 disk drive interface. The 440BX supports a 100MHz system bus, 100MHz synchronous dynamic RAM and 2X accelerated graphics port (AGP). AGP can help speed up performance by allowing a PC's graphics system to tap into its main memory. ATA66 is a newer disk drive interface that will transfer up to 66MB of data per second. It's twice as fast as the ATA33 standard used with 440BX.