Okay, I was going to sit this one out, but I feel compelled to throw my
two cents in anyways, please forgive me....
http://www.techweb.com/wire/news/1997/10/1030samsung.html
Intel is going to take a bath on their Alpha manufacturing plant.
Samsung is ready to ship 700MHz next generation alphas using .25 micron
as opposed to Intel's Alpha manufacturing at .35 microns. DEC
was lucky to be able to get rid of that division at any price,
and I can only assume that they are laughing all the way to
the bank.
The 700MHz chip is spec-wise twice as fast as the 533MHz.
Mmmmmm, fast chips, mmmmmm.
Greg
The Alpha race could have an impact on
Samsung's hopes to build up its microprocessor
business base, if it can gain a lead on Intel while it
is busy taking over the Digital fab in Hudson,
Mass. Intel will re-tool the Digital fab with 0.25
micron equipment, once the U.S. government
approves the deal, said Craig Barrett, Intel's
president.
However that could take three to six months, and
Samsung's Park estimates it will take Intel at least
another six months to revamp and qualify the fab
for 0.25-micron processing. And Park said
Samsung plans to keep well ahead of Intel by
moving as fast as possible to a 0.18-micron
process that will provide even faster chips.