Intel Corp., the world’s biggest chipmaker, raised its sales forecast for this quarter, proving that personal-computer demand is recovering.

Third-quarter sales will be at least $8.8 billion, Intel said in a statement today. That compares with at least $8.1 billion the company projected last month. The company also increased its gross-margin forecast for the period.

The company also said it expects gross margins at the higher end of its earlier forecast.

Consumers are driving the strength and the relative strength in PCs, said William Kreher, an analyst at Edward Jones & Co. in St. Louis.

We do have an expectation that 2010 will bring renewed demand from the corporate sector as well.

Intel's sales have recently been tied more to the consumer market. Spending by consumers has held up better amid the recession than corporate spending. Rising demand for laptops, and in particular the small, cheap devices known as netbooks, have been a bright spot for Intel amid the recession.

Intel