News
Intel Atom Leads Worldwide PC Microprocessor Market in Q3
- By Herb Torrens
- November 06, 2008
The market for microprocessors is not immune to the economy or the forces of
supply and demand, as was evidenced in a third quarter report from IDC this
week.
According to the report, "Worldwide PC processor unit shipments grew 14.0
percent quarter over quarter (QoQ) and 15.8 percent year over year (YoY)."
The surge in Q3 was fueled by demand from the Pacific Rim and a lower price
point which has enabled more people in emerging regions to acquire computing
devices, according to an e-mail from IDC's Shane Rau, research director, Computing,
Networking and Storage Semiconductors.
Chip leader Intel led the charge in new markets with its Atom processor, used
in "ultra low-cost PCs" that it calls Netbooks, according to the report.
Take away Atom's impact in the market and shipments would have only grown 8.8
percent QoQ and 8.7 percent YoY.
"This year, and for a few years to come, the mobile PC segment in the
Asia-Pacific regions, notably China, are driving PC demand and, therefore, PC
microprocessor shipments to OEMs for PCs going into those segments," Rau
said.
Intel continues to corner the chip market with an 80.8 percent showing in Q3.
AMD is a distant second with 18.5 percent.
While shipments of microprocessors hit record levels in Q3, analysts at IDC
and in the industry predict a slowing consumption rate in 2009 attributed to
concerns of a pending worldwide economic downturn.
"The outlook is uncertain because of concerns for worldwide recession
that will lead to slowing GDP growth," Rau said. "That means less
corporate and consumer spending on information technologies, including PCs."
Rau said that industry red flags about slowing growth are showing up throughout
the PC supply chain, including semiconductor foundries, ODMs and OEMs. IDC stated
in its report that both Intel and ADC have "indicated an uncertain outlook"
for the year to come.
About the Author
Herb Torrens is an award-winning freelance writer based in Southern California. He managed the MCSP program for a leading computer telephony integrator for more than five years and has worked with numerous solution providers including HP/Compaq, Nortel, and Microsoft in all forms of media.