Facing the trend of low-price motherboards, chipset designers have been compelled to launch cheaper products to meet market demand. Following its three new Pentium 4 chipsets, Intel is planning to introduce an even less expensive integrated chipset, the 845GLL (845GL Light). VIA Technologies has also rolled out an updated P4X266E for the latest competition.
Targeting the low-price market, the 845GLL will be quoted at below US$25. Originally, Intel was said to have considered cutting costs by equipping the chipset with the older ICH2 south bridge chip. However, according to sources, Intel will still pair the chipset with the new ICH4 south bridge chip, but not include USB 2.0 support in the product.
Motherboard makers said that Intel's decision to use the ICH4 south bridge chip in the end was likely out of consideration of bus compatibility between the north and south bridge chips. Adopting the ICH4 chip but disabling its USB 2.0 support will allow Intel to lower costs and simplify motherboard design.
Seeing Intel's foray into the low-price market, VIA has decided to confront the new competition by updating its P4X266A chipset. Quoted at as low as US$18, the P4X266E is equipped with VIA's latest south bridge chip, the VT8235, which allows the product to support USB 2.0. In forthcoming versions of the VT8235, the Taiwanese chipset designer also plans to add serial ATA and 802.11b-support functions.
VIA said that currently the market prices of P4 chipsets are considerably undervalued, and it is unlikely for most designers to slash prices further. As a result, strengthening product specifications may be the only way to face the fierce competition at the moment. Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) also plans to pair its P4 chipsets with the company's new USB 2.0-based SiS962 south bridge chip.

Related stories:

AMD K8-based chipsets ready, related boards expected to be seen at Computex Taipei (May 21)

Intel to launch DDR333-based 845PE and 845GE in September, technical rollouts earlier at Computex Taipei (May 6)

Mobo makers slashing 845GL board prices to ease inventory pressure (Apr 24)

Intel preparing to launch an even cheaper P4 integrated chipset, the 845GLL (Apr 15)

VIA, SiS go to war with Intel's 845G, 845GL by lowering price (Mar 27)

Source: DigiTimes

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