The chip is used in many personal and business computers, including those made by IBM, Gateway 2000, Compaq and Dell. The problem was discovered in June and was corrected. The revised chip has only recently hit the market. One software company is already trying to assuage customers' concerns. The company said that some people using its software at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory were worried that the Pentium chip would cause errors.
Precise calculations are crucial in space missions.
The company is not issuing a recall but said people who are worried should call. Mathematicians and scientists more likely to run into problems could get revised chips, Thompson said.