Dataquest: Intel-based servers to fuel market in '03

Revenue from servers with processors from Intel is due to exceed revenue from servers with RISC (reduced instruction set computing) processors for the first time in 2003, bringing in close to US$20 billion, a new research report predicts.

According to researcher Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner Inc., Intel-based servers sales will continue the growth trend in 2003 that they have established over the last six years, fueling a turnaround in the server market.

Intel-based server shipments have increased annually since the first quarter of 1996, when the figures were first tracked, growing to 87 percent of all servers shipped, Dataquest said.

Sales of RISC-based servers are also expected to be strong in 2003, however, totaling about $18 billion.

The researcher also predicted that Linux server-based shipments will double in 2003 to reach 800,000 units, opening the door for new market opportunities. Furthermore, the researcher predicted that new standards will emerge next year that will spark modular computing.