Intel Introduces The Pentium® 4 Processor

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 20, 2000 - Intel Corporation today introduced the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, its newest microprocessor for high-performance desktop computers.

The Pentium 4 processor delivers a new generation of performance for processing video and audio, exploiting modern Internet technologies, and displaying 3-D graphics. Its foundation is the new Intel® NetBurst® micro-architecture, a collection of unique technologies that will power Intel's most advanced 32-bit processors for consumer and business users over the next several years of computing.

"The Pentium 4 processor is designed to give users performance where they can appreciate it most," said Paul Otellini, executive vice president and general manager, Intel Architecture Group. "Whether streaming content, playing interactive games, encoding video and MP3 files, or creating Internet content -- the Pentium 4 processor is designed to meet the needs of today's most demanding computer users."

Major computer makers and software suppliers around the world have spent months readying products based upon the Pentium 4 processor. All major desktop PC makers have Pentium 4 processor-based PCs or workstations under development. Many manufacturers are expected to start taking orders today and will begin delivery of PCs based on the Pentium 4 processor.

The Intel® NetBurst® Micro-Architecture and Intel® 850 Chipset
The Pentium 4 processor with Intel NetBurst technology is the first completely new desktop processor design from Intel since the Pentium Pro processor, with its P6 micro-architecture, was introduced in 1995. Highlights include Hyper Pipelined Technology, which enables the Pentium 4 processor to execute software instructions in a 20-stage pipeline, as compared to the 10-stage pipeline of the Pentium III processor. Hyper Pipelined Technology supports a new range of clock speeds, beginning today with 1.5 and 1.4 GHz, with plenty of headroom for the future.

For higher performance, the Rapid Execution Engine allows frequently used Arithmetic Logic Unit instructions to be executed at double the core clock. The industry's first 400 MHz system bus speeds the transfer of data between the processor and main memory. In addition, 144 new instructions have been added to further speed the processing of video, audio and 3-D applications. These and other technical innovations make Pentium 4 processor-based PCs the ideal machines for creating and experiencing Internet media.

The Pentium 4 processor platform is based on the high-performance Intel® 850 chipset. The Intel 850 chipset's dual RDRAM* memory banks complement the Pentium 4 processor's 400 MHz system bus, providing up to 3.2 gigabytes of data per second. Intel also announced availability of the Intel Desktop Board D850GB, which supports the new Pentium 4 processor in the ATX form factor.

The Pentium 4 processor is Intel's highest performance desktop processor as measured by the SPEC CPU* 2000 benchmark. The Pentium 4 processor at 1.5 GHz earned a SPECint*2000 score of 535 and a SPECfp*2000 score of 558. For more information on Pentium 4 processor performance, visit www.intel.com/procs/perf/pentium4/.

Products and Pricing
The Pentium 4 processor is being introduced today at 1.5 and 1.4 GHz speeds. The Pentium 4 processor is manufactured on Intel's high-volume, 0.18-micron process technology and is available now. Pricing in 1,000 unit quantities is $819 and $644 each for the 1.5 and 1.4 GHz parts, respectively.

Intel is also shipping boxed Pentium 4 processors with 128 MB of RDRAM*, the boxed desktop board D850GB, and a platform integration kit. These Pentium 4 processor platform building blocks are available through authorized distributors to members of the Intel Premier Providers program, enabling them to build and ship Pentium 4 processor-based systems immediately. Additional information about Pentium 4 processor is available at www.intel.com/pentium4, with launch information available at www.intel.com/pentium4/.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.