VIA will launch its Pentium 4-oriented DDR SDRAM-based chipset, the P4X266, in August and is busy signing up mobo makers in time for the big day.

The Taiwanese chip maker officially announced the product earlier this month.

VIA wants to ensure it's ahead of other Taiwanese chip makers who have been granted P4 licences by Intel. Intel-backed chipset vendors SIS and Acer Labs are known to be working on P4 DDR chipsets, but they are not expected to ship them in volume until Q4.

Intel's own DDR chipset, a version of its 845 product (aka Brookdale) is due to ship early 2002.

Intel may yet try to scupper VIA's plan, claiming its rival hasn't the right to use its technology. VIA contends that it does, thanks to licences it acquired through its takeover of S3's graphics chip operation. ®