Is the mainstream market shifting to having stronger integrated graphics in chip sets?
For a long time, Intel has offered low-end graphics capability in its chip sets. But it looks like it isn’t cutting it anymore. RB: We used to compete against Intel in Intel chip sets. We did reasonably well. The challenge is they are so closely tied together it’s tough to break in. The pricing is challenging. The market is becoming savvier about the need for stand-alone graphics or better chip sets with better integrated graphics. The question is whether someone can break the hold that Intel has on the market. VB: Do you think that people have a strong appetite for high-end graphics? RB: If you look at the sales, it’s still healthy. The third quarter was down a little from last year. But the market keeps getting bigger and bigger. VB: Is PC gaming healthy? RB: There is a very compelling story on why PC gaming is so healthy now. When you consider shipments of high-end gaming rigs and strong sales of online games such as World of Warcraft, you can see how strong it is. Sales at the high
