Computers & Processors:

Intel Rolls Out Fastest Pentium 4 To Date

Intel Corp rolled out three new microprocessors, including the speediest Pentium 4 to date, keeping up the speed race against rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

In addition to a Pentium 4 chip running at 2.53 gigahertz, Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, also introduced a far faster bus, which connects the processor to memory chips in a personal computer. The faster bus moves bits at 533 megahertz compared with 400 megahertz previously.

In addition to improving the performance of PCs, the faster bus also makes more room for faster Pentium 4 chips. Intel executives have said its Pentium 4 chip, and the company will be selling a Pentium 4 chip running at 3 gigahertz in the fourth quarter.

Intel and Advanced Micro Devices have been slugging it out for the moniker of the highest-performing processor since Advanced Micro introduced its Athlon processor in August 1999.

Intel said the faster processors, which will be found in PCs costing about $2,200, speed up the performance of gaming, business software tools, and faster video and sound editing. For example, PC with a Pentium 4 running at 2.53 gigahertz can convert songs to the digital MP3 format almost six times faster than the fastest PCs of three years ago, Intel said.

Intel also introduced Pentium 4 chips running at 2.40 gigahertz and 2.26 gigahertz. Both of those Pentium 4 chips also have the faster 533 megahertz bus.

The 2.53 gigahertz Pentium 4 costs $637, the 2.53 gigahertz Pentium 4 costs $562, and the 2.25 gigahertz Pentium 4 costs $423, all in quantities of 1,000.

Dell Computer Corp, the largest PC maker, among others debuted systems with the new Intel chips. Dell's Dimension 8200 desktop PC is priced at $2,129 and comes with the new, fastest Pentium 4 chip, 512 megabytes of memory, an 80 gigabyte hard drive and a 19-inch monitor.