Some of Intel’s (NASDAQ:INTC) higher-end processors have not exactly been living up to the hype. At least, that’s what some have found when running high-demand systems, and PC gamers have particularly found this to be true. But Intel may have a fix in the making, and that’s pushed shares up fractionally in Tuesday afternoon’s trading session.
The firm has gone on the offensive with this fix and is getting a bit belligerent about it, too, based on the latest reports. Intel approached its motherboard partners and demanded that they put the Intel Default (Baseline) Profile into place by May 31. This move will bring all LGA1700 boards up to speed, updating BIOS systems to use the default power management recommendations that Intel itself put together. The company hasn’t confirmed or denied this point, so that’s worth keeping in mind. Still, anything that gets processors back up to snuff and lets systems run smoothly is likely worth doing.
All This and New Processor Delays
Meanwhile, other reports suggest that Intel’s not having much better luck in the graphics processing unit (GPU) line either. The Battlemage Xe2 and the Celestial Xe3 GPUs are seeing a delay, according to recent word from a leaker who’s been right about this sort of thing before. It’s not official Intel word, but there’s already significant concern among Intel chip users who were looking forward to a house-brand GPU, especially one that’s worked as well as it has based on the early testing.
Is Intel a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on INTC stock based on four Buys, 23 Holds, and four Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 2.33% increase in its share price over the past year, the average INTC price target of $39.92 per share implies 28.4% upside potential.
