Intel Launches Powerful New Pentium M Processors, Cancels Next-Generation Pentium 4

This week, Intel significantly boosted the performance of the IntelCentrino mobile microprocessor products with the introduction of newIntel Pentium M processors that feature faster clock speeds and systembuses and larger cache sizes. The company also announced that it'scanceling the development of two next-generation desktop-basedmicroprocessors so it can concentrate on more powerful dual-coremicroprocessors. Both announcements are a boon for PC users becauseIntel pledges to keep up its recent pace of innovation and speed thedevelopment of its processors and related chipsets.

The new Pentium M designs, which are code-named Dothan, will shipthis week in a variety of notebook computers and Tablet PCs. TheDothan family currently includes three new processors, all of whichfeature a smaller 90nm process (compared with the earlier-generationPentium M chips' 130nm process), resulting in smaller sizes, less power consumption, less heat, and lower costs. However, because the new chipsuse the same socket design that the earlier-generation chips used, PCmakers can immediately integrate the Dothan CPUs into their existingmobile computers.

The Dothan processors are also the first products to use Intel'snew chip-naming conventions. The Pentium M processor 735, forexample, runs at 1.7GHz and costs $294 per chip (in quantity). Theother two models include the Pentium M processor 745, which runs at1.8GHz and costs $423, and the high-end Pentium M processor 755, whichruns at 2GHz and costs $637. The number 7 in these product namesdenotes the Dothan generation of chips, whereas the latter two numbersspecify relative performance. The Pentium M processor 755, forexample, has higher-level performance than the Pentium M processor735.

Meanwhile, Intel also announced that it will halt development ofthe Tejas Pentium 4 and Jayhawk Xeon processors. Both CPUs featuredsingle-processor cores, and the company says it will now concentrateonly on dual-core processors, which feature increased performance. "Weare reprioritizing and revamping our roadmap," an Intel spokespersonsaid. "This is a competitive move." Dual-core processors appear as twodifferent processors to compatible OSs such as Windows and oftenperform as well as two separate processors, without the resultingcosts, heat, and noise. Intel says it will ship next-generation,dual-core desktop and server processors next year