Opening Salvo

Intel has announced plans to make an all-in-one microprocessor that will not only act as the brain of a personal computer, but will also have video and memory controller functions built right in. For the non-technical, this is a huge departure from the current architecture of personal computers. Up until now, video (and for Intel chips) memory control has been done on separate chipsets (AMD began integrating memory control onto its processors a while ago). Experts are saying that there will still be demand for high-end video cards for gaming and such, but I kind of think they are missing the point, here.

Their market is about to go away.

The No. 1 chipmaker's new processors, or computer "brains," may contain two features that are usually separate parts. One is a graphics processor, needed to view high-quality images on a PC screen. The other is a memory controller, which controls the flow of data to and from the processor.

Intel hasn't yet announced model details of the processors, expected next year. But the all-in-one capability will likely allow Intel to make extremely efficient, low-powered chips, says Senior Vice President Pat Gelsinger. That may lead to increasingly smaller laptops.

It might also allow Intel to steal business from rivals. Intel already makes graphics components. So do several other companies, including Nvidia, ATI Technologies and VIA Technologies. When graphics are a separate part, it's possible to combine an Intel processor with an Nvidia chip. That's not an option with an all-in-one processor, giving Intel a bigger chunk of the money that PC makers spend on components.

If Intel and AMD (they also have plans for an all-in-one) make the video function part of the core, there will not be any way to turn those capabilities off. And there will not be a market for the stand alone graphics cards for all that much longer. Sure, the initial chips will be fairly low-end on graphics. But that will change very, very rapidly. (Intel "Extreme" graphics, used in a lot of onboard the motherboard video is actually not bad in handling mid-level graphics demands right now. They are not up to the current crop of computer games, but handle older ones rather reliably). Consider: if the video no longer has to be sent out of the microprocessor to be handled, all the external data transfers will be done away with. The result will be faster, better graphics in one place. Combine that with fewer data handles to and from the core and things are about to become very interesting for the current video chipset makers.