Intel will begin to ship the integrated-graphics version of its 845 chipset - codenamed Brookdale G - next February, ahead of its official introduction in April and considerably in advance of its previously timetabled launch in Q3 2002.

According to a report in DigiTimes, the chip giant has told mobo makers that it has had to bring the schedule so far forward to allow it to compete more effectively with rival Pentium 4 chipsets from SIS, Acer Labs and, yes, VIA too.

Officially, the part will still be formally launched early next year, Intel told us this morning, though clearly the part will ship ahead of that event to ensure sufficient availability at launch. Whether those preliminary shipments will take place this month or next, the company's spokesman wouldn't say.

Mobo sources, meanwhile, say they have been requested not to ship product before mid-December even though the 845D will go into mass-production this month.

Interestingly, one of the key features of Brookdale G is support for the upcoming P4 533MHz frontside bus. Now since 533MHz FSB P4s aren't expected to ship until Q3, we wonder if the early arrival of the chipset will mean the early arrival of those processors. Equally, we wonder if the new 845G release date will also be applied to the 845GL. ®

Related Link

DigiTimes: Intel unveils technical version of 845G, official launch in April 2002