UK system builder Mesh Computers is claiming it will be among the first to launch a Pentium III 800MHz PC in January, despite still not receiving a sample of the chip from Intel. The London-based company said orders for its Millennium 800 PC would be taken from the second week of next month, with deliveries starting one week later. But although Intel has announced the launch of the PIII 800MHz, and sent out the odd sample, there has been no guarantee of when shipments of the new chip will start for many UK OEMs. Mesh general manager Paul Kinsler said: "We expect to get the 800MHz products in the second week of January. I’ve been told by the distributors that there will be product.” However, Mesh has still not yet received a sample of the chip from Intel - it is hoping to see it in the first week of January - and Kinsler said he would not be able to actually confirm delivery to customers in the third week of January. Another system builder said it was been told by Intel this week not to expect shipments until the end of January. Evesham Micros director Luke Ireland said his company would not be launching with the chip until Intel could guarantee delivery. "Even with the PIII 733MHz chips we had to wait about four weeks for delivery," said Ireland. Leeds-based PC builder Panrix said it would also hold off launching machines with the chip until it was more certain over delivery times. Intel was this afternoon unable to say exactly when shipping would take place. The Mesh Millennium 800 machine, costing £1,899 ex VAT, will have 128MB SDRAM, 27GB hard drive, 10x DVD-ROM drive, 32MB GForce Nvdia graphics card, 19 inch monitor and 56K modem. It will come with Windows 98 and Corel WordPerfect Office 2000. ® Related stories: Intel will sample 800MHz Pentium IIIs next Monday Intel CuMine chips pre-announced, pre-announced again