Dell soaking up AMD chip sales

A NUMBER OF AMD resellers continue to be unhappy about the supply of microprocessors they're getting through their channel and now are blaming Dell Inc for the shortage.

Last year we reported that Dell was flogging AMD chips on its web site and it appears to be doing quite well. We're still totally unsure whether these chips are sourced through traditional AMD distributors like Avnet or whether Dell has a special deal with the firm to flog them. AMD is expected to rebound with additional stocks before the end of this month.

One major distributor told his reseller customers that AMD processors are still in shortage because of Dell, but it still has bits and pieces to sell. This could be sour grapes on the major distributor's part - Dell has never been flave of the day in the channel.

Meanwhile, memory prices have risen over the extended Yule break by about $2 a stick, while Intel will start flogging its third party ATI mobos with quantities in stock and even in what we used to call shops before the Internet. Intel has shortages on other fronts still, but the ATI board has everything bar the kitchen sink for around $65 or so and the channel is getting excited.