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Intel Moves Up Server Chip Shipment Date

Intel Corp. is moving up the planned shipment date of a computer chip that will compete against one from rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Intel officials told analysts during a conference call Friday that the company expects to ship its Tulsa chip in the third quarter instead of the fourth quarter. The microprocessor is one of Intel's latest for server systems, one of the markets in which AMD's Opteron chips have made recent gains at Intel's expense.

Intel said the launch of another server chip, code-named Woodcrest, will be June 26.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip manufacturer also contested some of AMD's earlier claims, saying that Woodcrest performs better and uses less power than the Opteron.

In a phone interview, Intel spokesman Bill Calder refused to say whether AMD specifically was the reason behind the shipment acceleration.

"Our intention is to ramp our products and go to market as quickly as possible," Calder said. "But are we in an intense competitive environment right now? Absolutely."

Intel shares rose 5 cents to close Friday at $17.16 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

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