The competition for market share among x86 processor
companies in the fourth quarter was largely a stalemate, but both
Intel and Advanced Micro Devices profited from higher-selling
prices, according to data from Mercury Research.
Intel slightly increased its substantial lead in the market for
desktop, notebook, and server processors based on the x86
instruction set, boosting its share from 82.6% to 82.8%, said Dean
McCarron, principal analyst with Mercury. AMD's share fell by the
same amount that Intel's rose, coming in at 15.5%.
Increases in the average selling prices of their chips accounted
for Intel and AMD's successes. Intel's server business had a good
quarter to account for its higher average prices, and AMD was able
to take tighter control of its channel to increase average prices
and post its first profit in nine quarters.
Intel lost a little share compared with the same quarter the
previous year, but McCarron said that figure is misleading. AMD's
market share last year was affected by a poorly timed decision to
increase inventories as processor demand waned, forcing the company
to clear out a backlog of inventory and give up substantial market
share.
The shipment numbers do not include the processors Intel makes
for the Microsoft Xbox.
Tom Krazit writes for IDG News
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