PROFITS at Intel rose 6% in the latest quarter even as hard-drive shortages held back computer sales.

The world’s largest chipmaker, which employs more than 4,000 people in Ireland, also provided a forecast for the new quarter that matched analyst expectations.

Fourth-quarter net income was $3.36 billion (€2.6bn), up from $3.18bn a year earlier.

Excluding some one-time effects, earnings totalled 68 cents per share. Revenue rose 21% to $13.9bn from $11.5bn.

The US company says it expects between $12.3bn and $13.3bn in first-quarter revenue, straddling the analyst forecast of $12.8bn.

Its forecast quarterly revenue was in line with Wall Street’s expectations as a shortage of hard drives disrupts PC production in a market already hurt by a shaky economy and a growing preference for tablets.

Intel warned last month that the damage wrought by flooding in Thailand — the world’s largest producer of computer drives — would curtail December quarter earnings.

The company is also struggling with tepid PC sales due to a weak economy and consumers’ increasing preferences for Apple’s iPad.

Intel had a gross margin of 64% in the fourth quarter. It said its capital spending in 2012 would be $12.5bn.

After flooding in Thailand ruined factories and sensitive machinery, shortages of the components are expected to persist through the first half of 2012 and disrupt PC production.

Shares of Intel rose 1% after its earnings report from a close of $25.63, up 0.95% on Nasdaq.