News
Pentium 4 is Here
- By Scott Bekker
- November 20, 2000
Intel Corp.’s long
awaited Pentium 4 processor was released today. It is the first completely new
desktop processor design from Intel since the Pentium Pro in 1995.
The new processor contains Intel’s new NetBurst
micro-architecture. The architecture features Hyper Pipelined Technology, which
enables the Pentium 4 processor to execute software instructions in a 20-stage
pipeline, as opposed to the 10-stage pipeline of the Pentium III processor.
Hyper Pipelined technology supports a new range of clock speeds, including
today’s releases of 1.5 and 1.4 GHz, with room for expansion in the future.
The Rapid Execution Engine in the processor allows
frequently used Arithmetic Logic Unit instructions to be executed at double the
core clock. The 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.
The Pentium 4 processor platform is based on the Intel 850
chipset. The chipset’s dual RDRAM memory banks complement the Pentium 4’s 400
MHz system bus, providing up to 3.2 GB of data per second. Intel also announced
the availability of the Intel Desktop Board D850GB, which supports the new
Pentium 4 processor in the ATX form factor.
In conjunction with Intel’s release of the Pentium 4, both Dell Computer Corp. and Compaq Computer Corp. announced new desktop
PCs based on the new processor. The Dell Dimension 8100 series offers the new
Pentium 4 1.5 GHz, a 400 MHz Front-Side Bus (FSB), and dual-channel RDRAM.
Additionally, the Dimension 8100 series offers certification for the THX audio
system.
Compaq today offered new Deskpro, Deskpro Workstation, and
Presario products built on the new processor. The systems are optimized for
graphic-intensive work. – Isaac Slepner
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.