New technology processors from Intel
26 Oct 1999
Intel Corporation has introduced 15 new Pentium III and Pentium III Xeon processors, all built using advanced Intel 0.18-micron process technology that enables faster processing speeds, new performance enhancing features and lower power consumption. These processors are now available in volume.
This launch is the broadest in Intel's history and encompasses desktop, mobile, server and workstation computing. The new processors feature an advanced transfer cache that delivers a performance boost of up to 25 per cent compared to earlier Pentium III processors running at the same clock speed. These processors can run on a wide choice of system configurations, including ultra-thin and light mobile PCs and small form factor desktop PCs due to their new packaging options.
Apart from these new microprocessors, Intel has also introduced the Intel 840 chipset for the workstation and server market segments.
About the processors
Mobile Pentium III processors
Intel has brought all the benefits of Pentium III processors to mobile PCs for the first time, offering the best combination of performance, mobility and choice. Systems running on these processors offer high quality performance for running office applications, accessing the Internet, corporate intranets, viewing high quality video or manipulating 3D images.
These are now available in 500, 450 and 400 MHz speeds. Systems with the new processors also feature a 100 MHz system bus, representing a 50 per cent increase in bus bandwidth over today's Pentium II processor-based notebooks.
The mobile 400 MHz Pentium III processor operates at an extremely low voltage (1.35 volts) and is targeted specifically at mini notebook designs. Intel's processors for the mobile segment consume less power than their desktop counterparts, are significantly smaller in size, and also have sophisticated power management features. The smallest mobile Pentium III processor package (called Ball Grid Array or BGA) is about the size of a postage stamp.
Desktop Pentium III processors
The new Pentium III processors are available at speeds of 733, 700, 667, 650, 600, 550, 533 and 500 MHz. These processors are supported by a variety of chipsets including the Intel 810E chipset, Intel 440BX chipset and Intel 440ZX chipset. These processors will also be supported by the Intel 820 chipset when it ships later this year.
Workstation processors and the Intel 840 chipset
Intel has extended its offerings to the workstation market segment with the Pentium III and Pentium III Xeon processor at 733, 667 and 600 MHz.
Workstations based on these processors and the new Intel 840 chipset offer enhanced systems features and capabilities, including the 133 MHz system bus, 64-bit PCI support, graphics support for AGP 2x/4x, and dual direct RDRAM memory channels with up to 2 GB of memory support. These new products give workstation users the power to manage increasingly complex projects, cut down on design time and work more efficiently.
Pentium III Xeon processor for servers
Intel's latest versions of its Pentium III Xeon processor extend Intel’s offerings for e-commerce and business computing solutions. These processors feature frequencies of 733, 667 and 600 MHz, and are designed to deliver the scalability, headroom and availability features necessary to enable front-end Internet commerce platforms.
These latest Pentium III Xeon processors feature advanced system buffering and 256K advanced transfer cache, as well as a 133 MHz system bus and on cartridge voltage management for enhanced reliability and reduced cost. Future large cache options will be available next year for maximum two-way performance and headroom. Server platforms will also be available with the Intel 840 chipset.
These processors have advanced transfer cache technology that includes 256K of on-die, full-speed level two cache that utilizes a wider path between the processor and level two cache memory. Advanced system buffering technology increases the number of "buffers" that speed the information from the system bus to the processor. These new technologies boost performance up to 25 per cent at the same clock speed over previous Pentium III processors.
Intel’s 0.18-micron process technology
Intel became the first company in the industry to begin high-volume manufacturing utilizing 0.18-micron process technology. Intel is using this technology in four factories around the world.
The 0.18-micron process technology features structures that are less than 1/500th the thickness of a human hair, smaller than bacteria and smaller than the visible wavelength of light (for the human eye). The smallest structures used with this new process are as small as 0.13-microns. Intel’s new 0.18-micron process technology uses six layers of aluminum metal interconnect, a low SiOF (fluorine-doped silicon dioxide) capacitance interconnect insulator, and can feature voltages as low as 1.1 to 1.65 volts (the lowest voltage of the products introduced today is 1.35 volts).
Product price and availability
The volume prices for the new processors on the launch date (25 October 1999) is:TOP
| Desktop | Bus speed | Price
|
| Pentium III-733 | 133 MHz | $776 |
| Pentium III-700 | 100 MHz | $754 |
| Pentium III-667 | 133 MHz | $605 |
| Pentium III-650 | 100 MHz | $583 |
| Pentium III-600EB | 133 MHz | $455 * |
| Pentium III-600E | 100 MHz | $455 |
| Pentium III-550E | 100 MHz | $368 (FCPGA package) |
| Pentium III-533EB | 133 MHz | $305 |
| Pentium III-500E | 100 MHz | $239 (FCPGA package) |
| Workstation/server | Bus speed | Price |
| Pentium III Xeon-733 | 133 MHz | $826 |
| Pentium III Xeon-667 | 133 MHz | $655 |
| Pentium III Xeon-600 | 133 MHz | $505 |
| Mobile | Bus speed | Price |
| Mobile Pentium III-500 | 100 MHz | $530 |
| Mobile Pentium III-450 | 100 MHz | $348 |
| Mobile Pentium III-400 | 100 MHz | $348 (low voltage) |
*E = To differentiate 0.18-micron from 0.25-micron processors at the same frequency
*B = To differentiate 133 MHz front side bus processors from 100 MHz front side bus processors at the same speed
Intel has also reduced the prices of its 450MHz Pentium II desktop chips by $10, to $173, reflecting a 6 per cent drop, and that of its 433MHz Celeron from $79 to $73.