computer chips

When it comes to transistors on computer chips, smaller size means more processing power. So when Intel holds its big press conference Wednesday, expect an announcement that will lead to a serious power boost for its chips -- perhaps from its long-awaited revolutionary tri-gate transistors.

The European Commission on Wednesday approved Intel's $7.68 billion acquisition of security-software company McAfee. Regulators had been concerned that the deal would exclude competing software from working with Intel processors, but Intel agreed to maintain interoperability.

In a move to help it target tablet computers, cell-phone-chip designer Qualcomm has reportedly offered $3.5 billion to buy Atheros Communications, which has developed chips that connect wireless computers to the Internet.

Applied Materials, the world's largest maker of computer-chip-manufacturing equipment, says its profit for its fiscal fourth quarter more than tripled from the same period a year ago.

PC orders are "falling off a cliff," according to a J.P.Morgan analyst who downgraded his revenue estimates for Intel on Tuesday. Another analyst offered a similarly glum assessment.

Semiconductor sales worldwide rose more than 50% in the first half of the year, the Semiconductor Industry Association announced Monday, but investors shouldn't assume that implies a slam dunk for the second half.

Investors are looking for a strong showing from the bellwether chipmaker, which would offer further evidence that U.S. companies -- and tech firms in particular -- are continuing to emerge from the recession. Analysts expect Intel to come through.

There's been a lot of fuss at the Las Vegas electronics show over tablets and 3-D TVs, but Intel's new platform for mobile devices is a big deal. Long the leader in computer chips, Intel sees a market for its chips in mobile devices with the blurring of boundaries between computers and smartphones.