IBM and Samsung to supply Compaq with Alphas

Although Intel is required by its agreement with the FTC to supply Compaq with Alpha chips, it's not exactly enthusiastic about producing and marketing a competitor to Merced. Instead, Compaq is looking to IBM and Samsung to build its Alpha chips. Indeed, IBM's process technology map appears more impressive than Intel's, while Samsung is aggressively pushing the Alpha to 0.18 micron. Interestingly, AMD has not yet closed its deal to allow it to build clone Alpha processors.