Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has introduced its next-generation microchip, codenamed Barcelona, in its long-awaited bid to regain ground lost to rival Intel.

AMD's customers such as Dell, HP and Sun Microsystems are already shipping computer systems using the AMD Barcelona chip and the chipmaker has already booked revenue from the new semiconductor.

Intel, AMD's rival, has regained ground it lost to its smaller rival in the last two years as it introduced its own new chips with what it calls a quad-core design, a chip that has four central processing engines.

"The stakes here are for AMD to staunch the erosion in its market share and to once again go on the offensive against Intel," said Insight 64 analyst Nathan Brookwood. "That's the biggest thing."

Intel recently launched its own high-end server processors, but those were only speeded-up versions, Brookwood said, adding that Intel's own chips -- codenamed Nehala -- using a similar design to AMD's will not be available until a year from now.

Reuters