Intel forced into deal with Reliance

Reliance, the server chipset vendor, has entered into an unholy alliance with its biggest rival -- Intel. At the same time, the company is renaming itself ServerWorks. The deal means ServerWorks will have access to future specifications of Intel chips. The company makes chipsets for Intel platform servers and speculation has been rife in the market for many months that high-end PC manufacturers would major on Reliance chipsets for IA-64 processors. Some Intel server customers have already jumped onto the Reliance (ServerWorks) bandwagon -- these include Compaq, IBM and Dell. However, a ServerWorks (Reliance) chipset is not planned for Itanium machines to be introduced later this year, according to CNET. Instead, ServerWorks is gearing up for McKinley, the second generation of IA64 chips. Financial details of the deal between Intel and ServerWorks were not released. ® CNET: Reliance Computer renames, deals with Intel