Documents which Intel has shown its distributors and channel partners revealed that its boxed chip and motherboard strategy appears to be back on target.

And, at the same time, it has told its channel that the 1GHz Pentium III processor using its FC-PGA package and a 133MHz bus will be available in single units or in tens.

The Register has seen a matrix of parts available now in single and box chip parts, and that includes three types of 1GHz Cumine -- the 1B-GHz Slot One part for workstations and servers, the 1GHz Pentium III flip chip part with a 133MHz system bus, and a 100MHz Slot 1 -- also designed for the workstation and server market.

Although 1GHz flip chip Pentium IIIs are now being sold, according to Pricewatch, they are expensive, costing well over $1,000 each. Earlier today, we reported that AMD will drop the price of its Thunderbird processor to under $500, a price move which Intel may be forced to respond to, thus turning the tables on the usual historical position.

But either the matrix itself is defective, or Intel still does not provide a boxed motherboard for any clock speed above 866MHz, let alone the 1GHz Pentium IIIs. According to the matrix, Intel now supports the following motherboards:

VC820, CA810E, D810EMO, CA810, OR840, SE440-BX2, SR440-BX, RC440BX, N440BX, T440BX, and L440GX.

Yet one column set against these boxed boards is headed "highest speed processor supported" and under the Pentium III 933MHz chip is the highest speed in the list.

Even the situation with the 933MHz is unclear, because notes against this entry say "not validated with 933MHz but expect to support" and "higher speeds will be evaluated".

We presume this is a mistake, seeing as hardware sites appear to have been sent Intel mobos that work.

Intel said that the most recent BIOS updates could be found on its Web site for the higher clock speeds, but it also not clear whether there will be an Intel own mobo to support the 1GHz flip chip Pentium III. ®

• In separate news, Intel said it has bought Datakinetics, for an undisclosed amount of dosh. The firm specialised in e-commerce and voice data solutions.