Intel to integrate i740 into chipset

According to EETimes, Intel will integrate its new 3D graphics chip i740 into Whitney, its Mendocino chipset, following a path pioneered by Cyrix in its MediaGX processors. Unlike the Cyrix solution, OEMs have the option to use a separate memory or system memory to store the frame-buffer. It will be interesting to see by what percentage system speed differs. Since other chipset vendors (SIS, VIA) are on the same attack vector, the days of low end graphics card vendors may be numbered. Let's hope that the integrated graphics vendors will not be so NDA happy that Xfree/fbcon become limited to a few systems: these moves spell cheaper systems at the cost of lower choice.