System Builder - Intel set to 'sow confusion'.(new Pentium 4 processors)

Byline: Martin Lynch.

System builders and PC customers are facing a confusing year as Intel prepares to unleash a host of new Pentium 4 processors in the next few months.

Market watcher iSuppli claimed that Intel's many proposed chip and technology introductions run the risk of creating "mass confusion" in the marketplace.

Intel is planning to introduce the 600 series and the 800 series of P4 processors shortly, alongside the existing 500 series. Within each series there will also be subdivisions, said iSuppli, as well as many new technologies and features.

The 600 series will boast 2Mb of onboard cache, up from 1Mb in the 500 series, and comes with Intel's 32-64bit Extended Memory Technology. This allows 32bit chips to run 64bit instructions and to address a larger amount of memory. The 600 series will also come with Enhanced Intel Speed Step (EIST) power management technology - an option in the 500 series - which has been adapted from its mobile processors.

The 800 series of dual-core processors is due to launch at the end of the second quarter. All three lines will run simultaneously. iSuppli has pointed out that there will be too many processors with the same clock speeds but different features and functionality.

Joe D'Elia, research director at iSuppli, ...