Intel is set to roll out a faster version of its Pentium 4
processor for notebook users and has cut prices by 27% on some
existing mobile chips.
New processors include a Mobile Pentium 4 Processor-M running at
1.8 GHz, an Intel source said. That is an improvement on the
existing speeds in that family of 1.7 GHz and 1.6 GHz. Intel also
will introduce slower versions of the chip to round out the product
line, the source said.
It is not clear which notebook makers would offer the chips in new
systems, but usually a handful of major system makers typically
climb on board for an Intel speed upgrade, the source said.
Intel has also cut prices of its Mobile Pentium III-M Processor
family, which is based on an older chip architecture than the
Mobile Pentium 4 Processor-M. The price of the 1.2GHz version fell
21% to $401 (£277), while the price of the 1.13GHz version was cut
by 27% to $294 (£203). The 1.06GHz and 1.0GHz versions each fell
18% in price, to $241 (£166) and $198 (£137), respectively, Intel
said. Prices are for chips bought in 1,000-unit quantities.
The Pentium III Processor-M comes with a 133MHz or 100MHz system
bus and uses Intel's P6 microarchitecture. The Pentium 4
processor-M comes with a 400MHz system bus and uses Intel's newer
NetBurst microarchitecture.