Intel confirms it overstated speed of Pentium chips

Article Abstract:

A glitch in the SPECint92 software that Intel uses to performance-test its chips caused a 10% processing speed overstatement for its Pentium chips. This announcement is fairly inconsequential since the difference is slight. However, Intel is embarrassed by its mistake and is reminded of the poor press it received due to Pentium flaws in 1994. Analysts use this scenario to further advocate independent testing to verify chip makers' advertised product claims. Intel's announcement followed competitor Motorola's discovery of the variance. Intel's proprietary testing software is meant to optimize the chip to reach maximum speeds. This method is common among chip makers but results are difficult to verify. Intel denies any prior knowledge of inflated test results. Intel's quick response to the accusation contrasts its slow response to the Pentium flaw accusations of 1994.

Semiconductor industry, Intel Corp., INTC, Intel Pentium (Microprocessor), Product Description/Specification

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A tale of two chips: Amdahl decides it's better to be cool

Article Abstract:

Amdahl is abandoning its current mainframe approach in the midst of unprecedented success to develop new less expensive chip technology. The company is stepping out while its technology is on top to stay ahead of market changes and avoid the ultimate decline of its own technology. Amdahl has always relied on ultrafast, power-intensive chips to run its mainframes, while less complex, inexpensive chips with much lower power requirements, cool chips, have proliferated in the computer market at large. Amdahl made the unprecedented decision to develop cool chip technology for the mainframe countering protests by pointing out that cool chip speed will increase dramatically at much lower operating costs. The company has partnered with Fujitsu to develop its first cool-chip mainframe.

Planning, Computer industry, Company product planning, Amdahl Corp., AMH, Company Business And Marketing, Heat Dissipation

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Behind the boom: it all comes down to Moore's Law

Article Abstract:

Moore's Law, which states that the number of transistors on a chip of a given size doubles every 18 months, is driving the development of the digital consumer electronics industry. With the emergence of new chips consisting of large number of transistors, functional integration has spawned such innovative applications as video-game players and digital cameras, all of which are powered by one silicon chip. More complex systems-on-a-chip are promised by manufacturers within a year or two. By 2005, a microprocessor chip could hold a billion transistors, compared to 7.5 million on Intel's current fastest chip. This swiftly-developing technology is expected to trigger the development of cheap PCs that can power cars or refrigerators, and smarter credit cards.

Household audio and video equipment, Consumer Electronics, Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing, Forecasts and trends, Consumer electronics industry, Market trend/market analysis

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