CPU maker Intel is pressuring smaller rival Via Technologies to exit the CPU market, industry sources in Taiwan claim.
In exchange, Intel will allow Via to continue making PC chipsets which use Intel's patented technology, say the sources at PC mainboard manufacturers, who do not wish to be named.
Intel and Via offices had not replied to a request for comment by the end of business hours in Taipei. The two companies typically will not comment on negotiations while they are in progress.
Via earns the bulk of its revenue from chipsets, but its CPUs are generating growing profits. The tiny, cheap CPUs have increasingly been adopted by designers of products like handheld PCs, low-cost notebooks, media servers and other applications where low cost, noise, heat and power consumption are strong selling points. Via's CPUs have begun to take orders from Intel in these niche markets.
Via has recorded operating profits of $22.5 million in the first nine months of the year, compared to an $18 million loss last year.
News source: The Inquirer
In exchange, Intel will allow Via to continue making PC chipsets which use Intel's patented technology, say the sources at PC mainboard manufacturers, who do not wish to be named.
Intel and Via offices had not replied to a request for comment by the end of business hours in Taipei. The two companies typically will not comment on negotiations while they are in progress.
Via earns the bulk of its revenue from chipsets, but its CPUs are generating growing profits. The tiny, cheap CPUs have increasingly been adopted by designers of products like handheld PCs, low-cost notebooks, media servers and other applications where low cost, noise, heat and power consumption are strong selling points. Via's CPUs have begun to take orders from Intel in these niche markets.
Via has recorded operating profits of $22.5 million in the first nine months of the year, compared to an $18 million loss last year.
News source: The Inquirer
If any of you have owned a Via chipset machine, you know what I mean.
But the right way is for the manufacturers of these machines to learn what the rest of us have learned long ago...don't buy Via.
They cna't make CPU's (they're even more crap than cyrix was in the day), and they certainly can't make chipsets, anyone who's built a PC with a VIA chipset, or worked in support where compatibilitywwith VIA is an issue can tell you that.
Via makes low powered chips for kiosks and stuff like that intel just needs to back off and deal with it.
intel is mad that they are making CPU chips not Mobo chipsets, next time read the article
They cna't make CPU's (they're even more crap than cyrix was in the day), and they certainly can't make chipsets, anyone who's built a PC with a VIA chipset, or worked in support where compatibilitywwith VIA is an issue can tell you that.
I'm using a Via chipset in my server (KT880 Pro I think) and I had no issues.
Lmao well said...
I for one would love to see Intel lose another 20-30% of it's market.
I for one would love to see Intel lose another 20-30% of it's market.
I'm not sure if I agree - I've always been a fan of the ATI v nVidia and Intel v AMD situation. While I agree that the entry of a third CPU manufacturer does pose benefits to the consumer, I disagree that the current situation is entirely harmful.
Intel v AMD and ATI v nVidia has fueled both markets so much over the last 10 years or so. CPUs and GPUs have been pumped out so frequently and for each new introduction there is price reductions on previous models. It's not only fun to watch, but for an intelligent consumer, quite beneficial.
Need I really mention all the others Intel has steamrolled over in the past?
Were I really tinfoil-hatted, I'd see this as the industry moving to ensure there were no non-TCPA players left in the consumer PC space. 411 UR M0B0 R B310NG 2 U5!!!!ONE11ELEVEN!
and let others have a share
Amd is already too big to be brought down with such a hit below the belt line, but with Via they think they can try it.
I had no idea.
After all, VIA is clearly superior. It's 64-bit technology is not only cost-effective, but is years ahead in terms of sophistication. Apple should just switch to VIA and dump Intel. Apple's stock jumping to an all-time high (three day straight records) of $90 is clearly a reflection of its failure with Intel's technology. The Core 2 Duo series is absolutely terrible. And AMD has a clearly superior processor out now that is much cheaper than Intel's offerings. All those benchmarks and tech sites saying how great the Core 2 Duo is are simply lying. They're ALL fudging the test results.
How did you feel when you awoke from your 2-year coma over the weekend?
I had no idea.
After all, VIA is clearly superior. It's 64-bit technology is not only cost-effective, but is years ahead in terms of sophistication. Apple should just switch to VIA and dump Intel. Apple's stock jumping to an all-time high (three day straight records) of $90 is clearly a reflection of its failure with Intel's technology. The Core 2 Duo series is absolutely terrible. And AMD has a clearly superior processor out now that is much cheaper than Intel's offerings. All those benchmarks and tech sites saying how great the Core 2 Duo is are simply lying. They're ALL fudging the test results.
How did you feel when you awoke from your 2-year coma over the weekend?
ROFL exactly.
oh yeah and people look at the source its The Inquirer!... they are major AMD fanboys... they will do anything to provoke anti-intel behavior...
CPU maker Intel is pressuring smaller rival Via Technologies to exit the CPU market
I bet the intel managers get a message from the future where Via joins to AMD and destroy Intel and Via owns the market
I think we'll all be just fine, and life will continue as before. *yawn*
Since Intel allows Via to make chipsets for it's processors, of course Intel would want Via to not make Processors, it's already handing to Via the documentation to make the chipsets, and that documentation can also be used to improve Via's Processors, so, why would Intel want to give a competitor the inside information to make clones of Intel's Processors without having to do any of their own R&D?
That's what patents are for.
Via's CPUs tend to be low power chips that may not perform as fast as an Intel or AMD chip, but they tend to cost less and run efficiently enough to be passively cooled. So you might not be able to game on them, but for a basic typewriting/internet machine, they are definitely a contender, and they are slowly biting into the Celeron market.
Totally. That's the same if there was one auto manufacturer, one clothing line, ect.ect. If there was only Intel, no AMD, VIA, Cirix, IBM, Win Chips... how fast do you think the current CPUs would be, with no need to constantly push the performance envelope? The more people pushing CPUs is fine by me, even if I only chose Intel or AMD.
What if your refrigerator broke down and you are gonna blame the electricity you got is not as good as your neighbor's.
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