ASUSTeK Computer has landed orders from Intel to build mainboards for the largest semiconductor vendor on the contract basis. According to a report from a Taiwanese news-paper DigiTimes, one of the biggest computer components maker will produce Intel Springdale-based mainboards starting from the first quarter next year. The contract includes the manufacturing of 4 million mainboards in total.

Intel plans to ship about 15 million of mainboards next year in contrast to 10 million this year. The company anticipates the industry rebound in 2003 and wants to strengthen their position on the mainboard market next year. Currently Mitac International and Foxconn Electronics make platforms under Intel brand-name, but it seems that their manufacturing capabilities may not be enough for Intel. Moreover, it may appear that these companies do not have enough experience in creating hardware intended for enthusiasts. As we reported about a month ago, next year Intel wants to unveil its mainboards code-named “Rapid city” that will be based on the code-named Springdale core-logic. The mainboard will feature loads of functions for overclockers and computer hardware enthusiasts. In contrast, now Intel does not allow the users to tune anything with their own mainboards.

Intel’s Sprigdale chipset is intended for the next generation Pentium 4 processors with 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus and Hyper-Threading / Hyper-Threading II support. The core-logic will provide dual-channel PC2700 and DDR400 memory controller and will be equipped with ICH5 South Bridge to offer Serial ATA-150 support.

ASUS will benefit from the close relationship with Intel both in terms of money as well as an opportunity to receive specification updates before other mainboard makers from Intel itself. Keeping in mind Intel’s recent unprecedented decisions with introduction of the 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus and DDR400 memory support by the company early in 2003, it becomes a critical task for mainboard developers to learn Intel’s roadmap even before it is officially unveiled at the time when Intel’s engineers consider all highs and lows of the final decision.