Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has lowered its fourth-quarter sales from an initial projected amount of $14.7 billion to $13.7 billion. In a statement, the top chip maker attributed the drop to the PC supply chain reducing inventories and microprocessor purchases due to current hard disk drive (HDD) supply shortages, as well as broader worries about the global economy.

As computer makers make fewer personal computers and servers, the demand for semiconductors has taken a corresponding dive.

The effect of the HDD shortage is expected to continue into the first quarter next year, with a rebuilding of chip inventories as supply recovers in the first half of 2012. Intel does not appear to be worried however, as the company says it has not changed its view that demand for personal computers and servers is healthy and growing.

Interestingly, Stacy J. Smith, Intel's chief financial officer, was reported in The New York Times to have told analysts that "we'll be using this as an opportunity" to increase sales of solid-state drives (SSDs), which use flash memory chips and are not affected by the current HDD situation. Smith did not announce any immediate plans for how Intel intends to leverage the situation to sell more of its SSDs.

For more:
- check out this article at CNET News
- check out this article at The New York Times

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