Intel sees chipset demand from motherboard makers exceed CPU shipments by 20%, say sources
Monica Chen, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Friday 19 March 2010]
Motherboard clients of Intel have been increasing orders for chipsets recently, causing chipset shipments to rise to a level 20% higher than processor shipments, according to sources from motherboard makers.
Motherboard makers are apparently more optimistic about desktops' demand than Intel, the sources commented.
Although Intel is more conservative than motherboard makers, the chip vendor would be glad to see desktop demand pick up, and would adjust its shipments in line with the market development when necessary, the sources noted.
The sources pointed out that motherboard makers have been aggressive in preparing motherboard components in anticipation of an increase in demand for desktops in China, which is expected to take over Europe and North America to become the largest motherboard market worldwide.
First-tier motherboard players Asustek Computer, Gigabyte Technologies, Micro-Star International (MSI) and ASRock are all gearing up efforts defending their market shares to meet their high shipment goals for 2010, the sources said.
But some motherboard players have expressed the concern that Intel's more conservative prediction for the desktop market may turn out to be more realistic. If that happens, they said, motherboard makers may resort to pricing campaigns to digest their chipset inventories at the expense of profitability.
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