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Intel Releases Less Expensive Itanium 2 Processors

Intel took a step toward its goal of bringing pricing of 64-bit Itanium 2 processor-based systems in line with its 32-bit Xeon processor-based systems on Tuesday with the unveiling of two new Itanium 2 processors.

The 1.4-GHz Itanium 2 with 3 MB of cache is available immediately for $1,172 each in 1,000-unit quantities. A 1.6-GHz Itanium 2 with 3 MB of cache will be available in May for $2,408 in 1,000-unit quantities.

According to Intel, complete entry-level systems with the new dual-processing-capable chips will start at $2,100. Fully configured systems will be available for about $8,000.

"As Itanium 2-based servers push further into enterprise infrastructures, we are able to reduce the overall system cost while increasing performance," Richard Dracott, Intel's general manager of enterprise marketing and planning, said in a statement.

Intel's public goal is to have Itanium 2 processors with up to twice the performance of Intel Xeon processors for the same price by 2007.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

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