By editorial@silicon.com, 19 March 2001 17:25
NEWS The 1,000MHz processor for mobile computers is launched a year after its desktop equivalent. The new chip runs on Intel's SpeedStep technology, meaning the processor runs at a lower voltage - so an unplugged laptop can survive three hours on battery power. The chip costs OEM manufacturers $722. Laptops with the fast chip installed will be priced upwards of £2,500. Compaq has launched two high-end Armada M700 notebooks - one at £2,617 and a model with a CD-RW and 30GB hard drive at £2,783. However, until the chip makes it into £2,000 laptops Compaq isn't expecting huge sales. Steve Gales, senior product manager of Portables at Compaq, told silicon.com: "Customers aren't screaming out for the 1000MHz yet - it will remain niche for a while." Gales added that OEMs knew Intel would struggle to push speeds further on the current architecture. "Reaching 1.3 or 1.4GHz would be difficult with the current chipset - the 440 BX. We've been expecting a new chipset later this year," he said. Although the Pentium III has already become the P4 on desktop models, Intel was quiet on whether the mobile-P4 is the next development as it doesn't expect to manufacture any more chips of the current size. Reiner Kreplin, marketing manager mobile computing at Intel EME, said: "We expect to move forward in processor from .18 microns to a smaller processor at .13 microns." On the desktop, Intel was beaten to the GHz barrier by AMD. Industry sources have speculated that AMD's next generation mobile processor Athlon, could be launched onto the market within the next couple of months. The chips will run at speeds and with power-saving technology to rival Intel's. Andy Favell
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