Strong Intel sales push global PC chip market to record Q2

Defying a bad economy and what is normally a bad season for computer chip sales, worldwide PC microprocessor shipments in the second quarter of this year reached what IDC analysts called record levels.

IDC Thursday reported that global PC processor unit shipments grew 3.1 per cent from the first to second quarter of 2008. And second quarter sales grew by 16.1 per cent compared to the year-earlier period. IDC didn't disclose its projected sales totals.

Intel, according to IDC, can take a lot of credit for the strong numbers.

"While sequential market growth is unusual in the second quarter of the calendar year, it's clear that in [the second quarter of 2008], Intel's [PC] processor shipments drove the growth," said Shane Rau, a research director at IDC, in a statement. "Intel's processor shipments alone grew nearly 4.3 per cent [quarter over quarter] and 20.8 per cent [year over year], while AMD's processor shipments were about flat."

Intel is on a roll, according to the IDC figures. The chipmaker's market share grew by 0.9 per cent in the second quarter, bringing it to 79.7 per cent. Troubled rival, Advanced Micro Devices' share of the PC microprocessor market dropped 1.2 per cent to 19.7 per cent, IDC reported.

IDC projects that the overall global PC chip market will continue to grow this year to $US32.8 billion by the end of 2008.

"While processor unit shipments exceeded our forecast in Q2 '08, Intel's aggressive approach to the market, through both product and pricing, points to a major, supply-side variable," said Rau. "However, economic concerns cause us to maintain our conservative outlook for the second half of the year."

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