Early AMD 800Mhz launch prompts Intel to follow suit

Sources claim Intel is set to launch its 800Mhz Pentium III processor in the first quarter of 2000 - three months early - in a bid to keep up with AMD.

Sources claim Intel is set to launch its 800Mhz Pentium III processor in the first quarter of 2000 - three months early - in a bid to keep up with AMD.

An official announcement has yet to be made, but Pat Gelsinger, vice-president of the desktop product group at Intel, is reported to have said the vendor will deliver the 800Mhz PIII in the first quarter of 2000.

The move comes a week after AMD brought forward the launch of its 800Mhz Athlon chip by three months.

Intel's chip shortage problems have increased with more products now in limited supply. Intel had admitted demand for the Coppermine technology was causing delays to chip shipments, especially 700Mhz and 733Mhz versions.

The shortage has spread to slower CPUs, sources said.

Sven Mahon-Daly, general manager of components at Computer 2000, said: "We can't acquire Pentium III 450Mhz chips at all, and might not see them again before they reach end of life. The 500Mhz chips are also in constraint and it can get worse."

Graham Palmer, an Intel UK representative, said: "There is very strong demand across the whole line and, consequently, supply is affected across the whole line."

• Via Technologies will launch the first Celeron clone, code-named Joshua, at the end of January. Joshua will be available in 433Mhz, 466Mhz and 500Mhz.

Via also announced the successor to Joshua. Codenamed Samuel, the chip will run at speeds of 500MHz and above when it is launched next autumn.

Intel and Via, who have clashed in the past, are currently involved in a series of lawsuits over patent infringement.