Intel Releases 810 Chipset, Delays 820

Intel yesterday released two new Pentium III microprocessors and its 810E chipset, while saying that memory-related problems have further delayed the release of its 820 chipset.

The new Pentium III processors operate at 600 MHz and 533 MHz, and both support Intel's 133-MHz system bus. The Intel 810E chipset builds upon the performance of the 810 chipset for PCs with Celeron processors, adding support for Pentium III processors and enhanced graphics performance. Using PC100 SDRAM for main memory, the 810E is designed to offer integrated graphics as well as support for either 133-, 100-, or 66-MHz side bus.

The highly touted 820 chipset was bumped from its Sept. 27 debut as engineers from Intel, Rambus, and several original equipment maker partners attempt to determine the "root cause of the issue," according to an Intel spokesman. During the validation process, a memory-related problem was discovered in the 820's three-RIMM socket configuration. The Intel spokesman said it's hard for the company to determine how long the 820's release will be delayed until the cause has been determined.

Compaq had scheduled a new workstation based on the 820 technology, to be introduced Oct. 25, but the company is unsure whether or not the product will be delayed. Similarly, Dell Computer has been developing new desktop and workstation products that will use the 820 chipset, but the company will not release those products until all the bugs have been worked out. "We still believe in Rambus technology," a Dell spokesman says. "It's what our customers will use moving forward for their desktops and workstations."