New Intel® Pentium® II and Celeron® Processors Bring Optimized Performance to Computer Systems

Pentium II Processors Attain Highest Performance Levels Ever

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 15, 1998 – Intel Corporation today introduced Intel® Pentium® II processors running at 350 and 400 MHz, and the first Intel Celeron® processor for Basic PCs, operating at 266 MHz. Intel's newest processors and related computer building blocks are optimized to deliver the best computing experience for users in several market segments.

The Pentium II processors running at 350 and 400 MHz offer the highest performance available for corporate and home users. Business systems powered by these new processors deliver exceptional performance on today's applications, and provide headroom for upcoming software such as more advanced operating systems and 3-D-based web browsers. Home computers based on Pentium II processors feature new technologies such as DVD players and AGP graphics, delivering the best computing experience available.

The Intel Celeron processor operating at 266MHz meets the core computing needs and affordability requirements of many new PC users. Intel Celeron processors deliver better overall performance than the Pentium processor with MMX™ technology, which is offered in many Basic PCs today.

"Intel's goal is to deliver the best products for each segment of computing," said Paul Otellini, executive vice president, Intel Architecture Business Group. "Pentium II processor-based systems bring the highest levels of performance and functionality to business and consumer users, while Intel Celeron processor-based PCs deliver the quality, value and compatibility that users expect from Intel."

All processors announced today are produced on Intel's 0.25 micron process technology, which enables high-volume manufacturing of processors to supply a broader base of users. Intel, the industry leader in 0.25 micron process technology, will be producing all of its microprocessors on this process by the end of 1998.

Building Blocks for Performance PCs
Large and small business users today demand more functionality and power from their PCs than ever before, and Pentium II processors running at 350 and 400 MHz enable a broad new set of technologies to meet these needs. A key enabler to these technologies is the new P6 100-MHz system bus. This new system bus improves upon today's 66-MHz system bus, allowing faster communication between the processor and other parts of the computer system, thus delivering a superior computing experience to even the most demanding corporate and IT users.

For consumers, performance PCs based on new Pentium II processors deliver the most exciting computing experience yet by enhancing a wide range of PC-based entertainment, creativity and productivity applications. Higher levels of processing power are enabling better 3-D graphics, smoother animation and more advanced software tools, opening up a new world of computing to consumers of all ages.

Supporting the increased levels of Pentium II processor performance is the new Intel 440BX AGPset. This chipset enables the new P6 100-MHz system bus, providing the highest level of performance and bandwidth for visual computing, including AGP graphics and 3-D rendering. The Intel 440BX AGPset supports up to one gigabyte of main memory and delivers maximum platform flexibility for computer manufacturers and resellers by providing a single motherboard design that can be used with the entire family of Pentium II processors. The Intel 440BX AGPset also integrates support for new manageability features designed to lower the cost of computing for businesses, including support for Intel's Wired for Management implementation.

Building Blocks for Workstations and Servers
The Pentium II processor running at 350 and 400 MHz, when combined with the improved information throughput of the 100-MHz system bus, improves overall high-volume server and workstation performance by more than 30 percent*. This performance improvement directly addresses the needs of these demanding market segments, and helps relieve the graphics and information bottlenecks common to many of today's single and dual-processor systems. In addition, servers and workstations based on these new Pentium II processors and the Intel 440BX AGPset will support up to one gigabyte of system memory, further increasing overall system performance.

Building Blocks for Basic PCs
The Intel Celeron processor 266 MHz enables superior visual computing performance for the Basic PC market segment, while also delivering better overall performance than the Pentium processor with MMX technology, which is the processor found in most Basic PCs today. Based on the same P6 microarchitecture of today's Pentium II processors, the Intel Celeron processor in business systems provides an affordable and balanced platform on which to run many standard business applications, while for home users it delivers today's best Basic PC-level multimedia performance for gaming, photo editing and educational titles.

The Intel Celeron processor is supported by the new Intel 440EX AGPset, the first AGPset designed specifically for the Basic PC market segment, which helps enable a low-cost motherboard design. The 440EX AGPset supports up to 256 MB of memory and is well-suited for a broad range of Basic PC motherboard designs, including the new Micro ATX form factor.

Product Features, Price and Availability
The Pentium II processors at 350 and 400 MHz include all of the same performance-enhancing features as the current Pentium II processors, including: Dual Independent Bus architecture, Dynamic Execution, Intel MMX technology and a closely coupled 512 KB Level 2 (L2) cache bus running at half the speed of the processor (for the 400-MHz processor, the L2 cache bus runs at 200 MHz).

The Pentium II processor, with 7.5 million transistors, is now offered at 400-, 350-, 333-, 300-, 266- and 233-MHz speeds. In 1,000-unit quantities, the Pentium II processor 350 MHz costs $621, and the Pentium II processor 400 MHz costs $824. The Intel Celeron processor 266 MHz costs $155 in 1,000-unit quantities. The Pentium II processors at 350 and 400 MHz are available today in desktop systems, servers and workstations from leading PC manufacturers. Boxed Pentium II processors, SE440BX motherboards for PCs and N440BX motherboards for servers are now available in systems from Intel product dealers. Intel Celeron processor-based PCs, boxed Intel Celeron processors and the accompanying MU440EX motherboards will be available in the next few weeks.

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