Intel drives deeper into mobile markets

Electronic News, March 25, 1996

Santa Clara, Calif.--Intel will this week take the wraps off of a mobile PCI chipset--the Intel 380 Dock Set--which it claims is the industry's first PCI chipset to enable "hot docking"--the ability to dock and undock a notebook computer while it is powered on.

Separately, Intel, in conjunction with a variety of systems partners, will roll out a platform to support its existing line of Ultra Low Power Intel486 SX/GX microprocessors--code-named Hummingbird--and used in portable systems such as PDAs (personal digital assistants).

The Intel486 SX/GX support platform will include an evaluation board Intel co-designed with Radisys Corp., chipsets from ACC Microelectronics, Acer Laboratories, Inc. (ALi), Cirrus Logic, Panasonic and S-MOS Systems. It also includes BIOS support from General Software and Phoenix Technologies; in-circuit emulators (ICE) from Kontron Elektronik GmbH, Microtec Research and Microtek International; and operating systems from Datalight, General Software and QNX Software Systems.

Meanwhile, the new Intel 380 Dock Set PCI chipset is designed to be used in conjunction with the Intel 82430 Mobile PCIset chipset which the company introduced last fall for mobile computers (EN, Oct. 16, 1995) and a Pentium processor, such as the recently-introduced 133MHz mobile Pentium (EN, March 11), in docking systems like those offered by Compaq Computer. Intel sources said the company plans to unveil higher-speed versions of Pentium mobile processors within the next few months.

The 380 Dock Set consists of two components: the 82380PB PCI-to-PCI bridge in a 208-pin quad flat pack (QFP), and the 82380AB ISA bridge in a 160-pin QFP. Both desktop and mobile (battery powered) docking stations are supported by the 380 and the same docking station can be used with 5 volt and 3.3V notebooks. The 380 Dock Set is available now, priced at $31 in 1,000-unit quantities.

Ronald J. Smith, VP and GM of Intel's PCI Components division, said: "There is growing demand for hot-docking capability from notebook users, and we can expect it to become a major platform-sell factor for OEMs later this year." One factor driving that demand is the hot-docking software included in Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system for portable computers. Intel says its chipset meets the docking requirements of Windows 95.