Intel Corp has put off first deliveries of the P5 microprocessor to the first quarter of next year from the fourth quarter this year, but says that the move has not affected progress on the follow-on P6, which it had said would start sampling as soon as the fourth quarter of next year, suggesting it will come very hot on the heels of the P5. Intel stresses that there are no problems with the P5 and that it is taking the opportunity of strong demand for the 80486 family to spend longer testing the highly complex new chip in the hope of avoiding the bugs that plagued the 80486 in its early days. The P5 will share the same production lines as the 80486.By using the time to improve the production process, Intel will be able to make more of the chips available initially than it usually can when it launches a new part, Paul Otellini, vice-president of the company’s microprocessor group noted – a shortage of 80386s in the early days caused disenchantment with the company at many customers for the chip, who encourged other companies to clone the chip in the hope of ensuring steady supplies.Apricot Computers Ltd had been planning to announce the world’s first P5 machine in September.
