Intel Corp, the world’s largest semiconductor maker, will present a new design for faster and more efficient chips aimed at winning back customers after its market share slumped to a four-year low.

Santa Clara, California-based Intel begins its semi-annual Intel Developer Forum on March 14 in San Francisco. Chief technical officer Justin Rattner plans to demonstrate how the new design, to be introduced in the second half of 2006, will produce processors that will win back orders lost to Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Intel is under pressure to show it can revive demand after last week cutting its sales forecast, citing a loss of market share. Intel chief executive officer Paul Otellini’s new processor design is aimed at making chips that match Advanced Micro in generating less heat and using less power.

International Business Machines Corp and Hewlett-Packard Co both picked Advanced Micro chips to run some of their server computers.

“There are pretty high expectations,” said Doug Freedman, an analyst at American Technology Research in San Francisco. He has a “hold” rating on Intel’s stock and is advising investors to buy Advanced Micro shares. “Intel needs to show their technology road map and prove it.”

( www.financialexpress.com)