HEXUS.sharewatch: NVIDIA up, Intel down as Computex looms

Two of the biggest chip-makers experienced contrasting fortunes in the stock markets last week and, in the absence of any big specific news to explain these moves, we reckon the looming tech show in Taipei - Computex - may be influencing their share process.

This year's show is expected to be big for tablets, and NVIDIA should once more be a major player with its Tegra 2 chip, which features in most Android tablets launched this year. NVIDIA experienced a spike in its share price after the first lot were announced at CES, and it could be that investors are anticipating another such spike, despite losing their never somewhat after Apple launched the iPad 2.

By contrast, Intel remains a marginal figure in the tablet market. Wintel tablets haven't been compared favourably to those based on mobile platforms and we've yet so see anything significant result from the Moorestown/Medfield roadmap. In fact we may have to wait another year or so for the 22 nm Silvermont before we get an equivalent buzz around Intel in the mobile space.

The Computex tablet launches will be interesting as OEMs have had more time to optimize for Android Honeycomb, and we expect some 3.1 launches. While competition is fierce both within Android and with the BlackBerry PlayBook and HP TouchPad, all tablets seem destined to be compared to Apple's iPad for the foreseeable future.