Summary Analysis

In the ceaseless debate over DRAM types, this roadmap update from Intel introduces additional vital perspective. We acknowledge that as the Pentium 4 becomes available, PentiumIII will move solidly to the midrange. The market opportunity for high priced P3 platforms will quickly dwindle - resulting in a quick ramp down of 820 and 840 systems. Demand will quickly shift to the 815 and to third party chip sets.

By the end of this year, the market for RDRAM in Personal Computers will be restricted entirely to Tehama (and perhaps Timna - the future of which seems uncertain to us). Over the next two years, Intel's roadmap indicates that RDRAM will be relegated exclusively to platforms costing over $2000 - dipping below $2000 in the summer of 2002 based on a chip set that is not described at any level of detail.

Though it seems that Intel is finally re-balancing its platform strategies to meet genuine market requirements, there are still some serious challenges lurking in the woods. The 'Dead Zone' is real and Intel is fully exposed to an onslaught from Athlon+DDR.

Report reproduced courtesy of: InQuest Market Research

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