MSI, who has been manufacturing graphics cards for Dell Computer since June 2001 has received additional orders from its Round Rock, Texas-based partner. MicroStar International will make desktop and notebook mainboards for the leading personal computer vendor of the planet. Earlier this year MSI started to produce mainboards for Dell’s servers. In late Summer 2002 Dell shifted all its graphics cards orders to MSI and ASUSTeK Computer in order to cut manufacturing and workmanship expenses (see this news-story).

Dell Computer and HP decided to choose MSI as an outsourcing partner for the year 2003 to make mainboards and now MSI’s executives should not worry about fab utilization next year. Moreover, starting from the third quarter next year MSI will make notebook mainboards for LGE, who manufactures mobile computers for Dell.

Dell currently outsources most of its graphics cards production to MSI and some graphics cards are manufactured by ASUS and Foxconn. Two latter companies also produce desktop mainboards for the number one PC vendor.

MSI, according to DigiTimes, owns 22 SMT lines in Chungho, Taipei county, additional manufacturing capacities able to produce up to 500 thousands of mainboards per month in Shenzhen (Baoan, China mainland), Guangdong Province and also a fab in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province (China mainland) where 3 SMT lines capable of manufacturing mainboards for notebooks are installed by the third quarter 2003. MSI plans to expand manufacturing capabilities of the Kunshan fab by the end of 2003 to more than 20 SMT lines.