IBM, raising new questions about Intel's flawed Pentium chip, said Monday it has stopped shipping its personal computers with that chip.
IBM's research lab found that certain calculations on common spreadsheet programs could turn up an error as often as once every 24 days.
"No one should have to wonder about the integrity of data calculated on IBM PCs," says Richard Thoman of IBM, now developing its own PC chip.
Intel says Pentium chips - more than 3 million are in use - do have a flaw that can cause errors in some sophisticated calculations.
But it says the user would encounter the error only once every 27,000 years, and calls IBM's decision unwarranted.
"We have no evidence of increased probability of encountering the flaw," says Andrew Grove of Intel.
PC buyers and the computer industry are poring over IBM's results to try to figure out if the problem is serious or if IBM is overreacting.
Either way, IBM's move is certain to damage Intel's image and worry Pentium PC owners. In Intel's favor:
-- So far, Compaq, Packard Bell and Dell say they will continue selling Pentium PCs and will support customers who want replacement chips.
-- Many analysts say IBM's tests assumed sophisticated use. Only intense business use of spreadsheets for tasks such as economic forecasting might replicate the test results. Home users would not do such work.
Still, IBM's research lab is "one of the best in the world, so you have to give some credibility to the tests," says Daniel Farber of PC Week.
