<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-06</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-07-20</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000813619</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWALL TECHNOLOGIES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215611</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEEDHAM GEORGE A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>445 PARK AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>737067</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Needham &amp; Company, Inc.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares owned by Needham &amp; Company, Inc. were previously inadvertently and incorrectly reported as 745,548 shares.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ George A. Needham</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

