Intel makes what perhaps is an expected announcement-- no doubt due to continual PC sale declines Intel is phasing out the desktop motherboard business in order to focus on mobile products.
In other words, the company will still supply desktop chipsets to 3rd party motherboard makers, but will stop making own motherboards (such as all ATX boards, including Mini-ATX and Micro ATX models) after a final Haswell-based series set for a Q3 2013 launch.
"Intel's Desktop Motherboard Business will begin slowly ramping down over the course of the next 3 years," the company says. "The internal talent and experience of 20 years in the boards business... is being redistributed to address emerging new form factors."
"Emerging" form factors to benefit from the resource reshuffle include "Next Unit of Computing" designs and Ultrabooks, as well as mobile devices.
Of course, desktop motherboards will still be around-- Intel expects the likes of Asus, Gigabyte and MSI, among others, to "fully support Intel's growing roadmap and large customer base."
The announcement follows rumours Intel will kill the current Land Grid Array (LGA) socket standard in favour of Ball Grid Array (BGA) for post-Haswell "Broadwell" chipsets.
