Demand for semiconductors used in PCs and notebooks has been sluggish with no signs of a pickup in customer orders, according to sources at IC design houses.

There has been news from PC clients about disappointing sales during the back-to-school season, the sources observed. In addition, the visibility of orders for September remains unclear with only a few customers showing their intent to replenish inventory ahead of China's October 1 National Day holiday, the sources said.

It now seems certain that supply-chain companies in the PC sector will experience a particularly weak third quarter in 2012, the sources indicated. The sources attributed such disappointment to some factors behind consumers postponing purchases. For example, consumers are waiting in anticipation of Microsoft's Windows 8, which will not be available until late October, the sources noted.

The upcoming Windows 8 could act as a catalyst for PC sales in the fourth quarter of 2012, which, however, will not be determined until after mid-October, the sources said.