Intel Launches Pentium® 4 Processor At 2 GHz

Pentium® 4 Processor-Based PCs Reach New Levels of Performance, Platform Choice, and Industry Support

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 27, 2001 - Intel Corporation today introduced the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor at 2 gigahertz (GHz) - or two billion cycles per second - crossing a key technology milestone and extending the PC's ability to meet evolving user requirements for today and the future. Computer makers worldwide launched systems today based on the new Pentium 4 processor and on other Intel technologies.

"The rapid ramping of technology and industry support for the Pentium 4 processor reflect the strength of the underlying architecture and the headroom it provides for the demands of new and evolving usage models," said Louis Burns, vice president and general manager, Intel's Desktop Platforms Group. "The combination of Intel processor and platform technologies and industry innovation provides the foundation for the next decade of desktop computing."

Intel and more than 40 software vendors and computer manufacturers demonstrated a range of new applications and products optimized for the Pentium 4 processor for both consumers and business users. The company also highlighted key Intel platform elements, including today's high performance 850 chipset and the upcoming low-cost 845 chipset that deliver the performance of Pentium 4 processor-based systems across all mainstream price points. These are enabling computer makers to offer a variety of Pentium 4 processor-based systems, ranging from the highest-end configurations to systems under $1,000.

"The experience of the PC industry has proven repeatedly over the years that usage models evolve and new applications emerge," said Burns. "While innovation can sometimes be hard to predict, it is critical for our industry to drive forward-looking platform architectures that enable new capabilities. The Pentium 4 processor is an example."

Pentium 4 processor-based systems are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of users. For consumers, Pentium 4 processor-based systems are perfect for creating and sharing digital media, delivering maximum performance for processing digital video and audio, displaying 3-D graphics, and taking advantage of the latest Internet technologies. For business users, the Pentium 4 processor enables increased levels of productivity and collaboration, as well as the system longevity and return-on-investment needed to achieve the greatest competitive advantage for today and the future. The Pentium 4 processor also delivers performance for the next generation of software applications and Internet innovations.

The World's Highest Performance Desktop Microprocessor
Systems based on the Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz can create and share digital media up to 81 percent faster than a computer with a Pentium III processor at 1 GHz. The Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz also enables business users to increase productivity more than 50 percent compared to a Pentium III processor at 1 GHz, especially in multitasking environments where background tasks like virus checking, encryption and file compression increase the processor workload.

Platforms based on the Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz feature many of Intel's latest technologies, including the high performance 850 chipset. The Intel 850 chipset's dual RDRAM* memory banks complement the Pentium 4 processor's 400 MHz system bus, handling up to 3.2 gigabytes of data per second. For computer makers and system integrators, Intel also announced availability of two desktop boards today, the "ATX" Intel Desktop Board D850MV and the smaller "Micro-ATX" Intel Desktop Board D850MD.

Intel also previewed its upcoming 845 chipset. The new SDRAM-based 845 platform will provide key cost reductions and greater user choice, enabling a new, high volume mainstream platform for business.

The Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz is the world's highest-performance desktop processor as measured by the SPEC CPU* 2000 benchmark. The Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz delivers the world's highest desktop processor score on SPECint*_base2000, with a score of 640. In addition, the Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz delivers a SPECfp*_base2000 score of 704.

Pricing and Availability
The Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz is manufactured on Intel's high-volume, 0.18-micron process technology, and is available now. In 1,000-unit quantities, the 2 GHz version is priced at $562; Intel also launched a 1.9 GHz version priced at $375. Intel is shipping boxed Intel Pentium 4 processors up to 2 GHz to distributors and system builders worldwide.

Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

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