Advanced Micro Devices

Intel has introduced new chipsets and central processing units earlier than expected. The chipmaker on Monday released details on seven desktop Clarkdale CPUs and 11 mobile-computer Arrandale CPUs several days earlier than the official announcement.

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Intel Wednesday that accuses the world's leading microprocessor maker of illegally stifling competition for more than a decade. By waging a systematic campaign to prevent competing microchips from gaining full access to the marketplace, the FTC said, Intel has deprived consumers of potentially superior chips at lower prices.

Intel's antitrust troubles haven't ended with the European Union's record-breaking $1.45 billion fine. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed suit Wednesday against the company, alleging bribery, coercion and other anticompetitive activities.

Nvidia is taking its ongoing legal battle with Intel to a new level. The chipmaker has announced it will halt the research and development of new chipsets that work with Intel's microprocessors.

Nvidia attributed its decision to "unfair business practices" by Intel, and the move comes as both companies are battling over licensing violations. Intel and Nvidia reached an agreement in 2004 relating to communication between a CPU and various parts of a computer. Nvidia's chipsets, which are also made for Intel competitor Advanced Micro Devices, help a processor talk with various components.

Regulatory rules have kicked some sand on an anticompetitive case against Intel dating back to 2000. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, on Monday published a summary of Intel's appeal of the EC's $1.45 billion fine.

Intel officials say they stand by their decision to contest the fine imposed in May. It was the largest ever levied by the EC on a single firm.

Regulatory rules have kicked some sand on an anticompetitive case against Intel dating back to 2000. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, on Monday published a summary of Intel's appeal of the EC's $1.45 billion fine.

Intel officials say they stand by their decision to contest the fine imposed in May. It was the largest ever levied by the EC on a single firm.

A couple of years ago, Dell looked equal parts laggard and self-defeating Intel loyalist when it ended up as the last big server maker to add popular chips from Advanced Micro Devices as options for customers. Now, a revamped Dell has shown flashes of creativity and an adventurous spirit by becoming the first hardware heavyweight to pop chips from the Taiwan manufacturer Via into its servers.

On Wednesday, the European Commission fined Intel a record 1.06 billion Euros (US$1.44 billion) for anticompetitive behavior. Intel said it will appeal.

The EC said the U.S.-based chipmaker gave discounts and payments to European computer manufacturers to use Intel's processors and prevent them from going to archrival Advanced Micro Devices. The investigation began in 2000.

Intel may be facing a hefty fine and a change in business practices. The chipmaker was accused of being anticompetitive after allegedly offering discounts to European computer manufacturers who purchased Intel's processors instead of chips from archrival Advanced Micro Devices.

The executive arm of the European Union, the European Commission, is expected to approve a $1.36 billion fine against Intel Wednesday and issue a cease-and-desist order stopping Intel from continuing with the alleged business practices.

European antitrust regulators could levy their largest fine ever in a market-dominance case against Intel, in what would be their latest shot at leveling the playing field in the global technology market.

The size of the penalty will be discussed by representatives from 27 EU governments in early May. The decision would follow landmark rulings by the European Commission against Microsoft, which also faces a continuing inquiry over its Internet Explorer browser, and a settlement with International Business Machines, which is also again the subject of a complaint.