SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- In a move almost certain to raise a few eyebrows at Rambus Inc., Intel Corp. is validating its desktop-PC double-data-rate (DDR) chip set, the Almador, scheduled to be unveiled next year, according to memory companies currently supplying Intel.

The Santa Clara microprocessor Goliath is reportedly perfecting its desktop-DDR capability to support either an upgraded Pentium III or the projected mainstream desktop Pentium 4, code-named Northwood. Intel is keeping its options open for debuting its desktop-DDR chip set, depending on market conditions and how much competitive heat is felt from archrival Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s DDR-enabled Athlon processors coming on the market later this fall.

But in any case, the timing options are far in advance of 2003, the timetable permitted under Intel's licensing agreement with Mountain View, Calif.-based Rambus to introduce its own desktop-DDR chip set. Analysts and chip-industry executives say they have little idea how Intel might try to finesse its Rambus pact restrictions to unveil a DDR chip set as early as next year.

Virtually all major DRAM producers and several module makers say they are shipping unbuffered DIMMs to Intel in large enough quantities to validate a DDR chip set. Memory-vendor executives who reported this development declined to be identified.

Intel's purchase of unbuffered DDR desktop DIMMs is the tip off that its new chip set is targeting mainstream PCs. A DDR chip set for servers, which the company has openly said it is developing, would use buffered DIMMs.

An Intel spokeswoman declined to comment, saying that the company doesn't discuss unannounced products.

Intel reportedly is using its Almador chip set to test and validate core-logic interfaces for DDR memory. Almador is slated to be unveiled possibly as early as the first quarter of 2001 to support the upgraded 1.3-GHz Pentium III, code-named Tualatin.

Intel is developing Almador to support both single-data-rate (SDR) and DDR SDRAM, said Bert McComas, an analyst at InQuest Research Inc. in Gilbert, Ariz.

However, McComas added he believes Almador will initially be introduced in only an SDR version, with the DDR functions deactivated.

"They're using Almador right now to test and verify DDR interfaces and core-logic controller timing functions," he said. "Intel then would have the DDR feature available in Almador should the company at some future time want to activate this function."

McComas also believes a DDR Almador will appear if the Northwood Pentium 4 desktop processor is delayed beyond its planned third-quarter 2001 launch and Intel needs to fill a DDR competition gap.

"If Northwood is introduced on schedule, only two quarters after Almador, then Intel won't want a DDR Pentium III version so close in performance, and the DDR functions of Almador won't be activated."

A few Taiwan motherboard makers, however, have publicly announced they will use Almador DDR chip sets supporting the Pentium III in the first quarter of 2001. Iwill Corp. has distributed its road map showing boards in the first quarter with a DDR Almador.

But Bob Merritt, an analyst with Semico Research Corp. based in Redwood City, Calif., thinks the Taiwanese are jumping the gun. While Almador will have DDR capability, Merritt believes the first chip sets to hit the market will support only single-data-rate SDRAM.