Intel goes beyond P4, Prescott to debut at 4GHz

SAN FRANCISCO: At the ongoing Intel Developer Forum, the chip giant, for the first time, publicly demonstrated its next generation desktop microprocessor code-named Prescott. Prescott will end the Pentium series when it is introduced during the second half of 2003. The announcement was part of a series of future roadmap Intel showcased for its desktop, mobile and wireless communications devices.

The company also announced that it would release the mobile version of Pentium 4 and detailed the next generation 2.5 and 3G-enabled communications processor.

The new series will begin at speeds of 4GHz and be based on the 90nm thickness against the current chip thickness of 0.13 micron. It will use Intel’s NetBurst micro architecture and bring Hyper-threading technology to the desktop for the first time. The technology enhances the performance of the PC by 30 per cent.

The company also unveiled its ‘Concept Platform’ named Lecta to be launched in 2003. The platform will have Pentium 4 microprocessor, discrete Graphics, Wireless capabilities using 4802.11a/b, Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0 and serial ATA.

Intel said it was also working with leading OEMs to introduce next generation form factors for the desktop. It announced the BigWater Program, which will initiate new form factors and have new building blocks based on 3GIO technology. The specification for this program is expected in 2003, with the first products to be released in 2004.

UPnP Gateway

Intel also introduced to the developer community, what it called the Universal Plug n Play Gateway, which will make the PC as the central point of all access devices at home, office or wirelessly. Users can log on to their home PCs and access data on their mobile or other devices through this gateway. The gateway device is expected to be released in 2003.

Pentium 4 goes mobile

Intel vice president and general manager, Mobile Platforms Group, Anand Chandrasekhar announced that Intel would soon introduce the mobile version of Pentium 4 processor for notebooks beginning at speeds greater than 1.5GHz. The Pentium 4 — M will be coupled with a new chipset based on the 845 chipset, currently used in desktops. The processor will also have mobile-specific features such as Enhanced SpeedStep technology and Deeper Sleep for low power state and small mobile packaging for thinner, lighter mobile PCs.

Banias — the future mobile processor

Anand also announced that the next generation of mobile processor, called Banias, would debut in the first half of 2003. It will be based on a new core chip design. A working sample of a chipset, code-named Odem, designed for the mobile market segment, to be introduced along with the Banias family, was also showcased.

He announced a new Intel Mobility Enabling Program to identify areas in which the industry can work together to address the issues in the mobile market. The program will draw platform guidelines, work on wireless stacks with a target of preparing for the launch of the first Banias chip in 2003.

Wireless Internet on a chip

Intel senior vice president and general manager, Wireless Communications and Computing Group, Ron Smith announced that future wireless technology from Intel would integrate communications functions, greater processing power and memory features onto a single chip. They will mark the foundations of Intel’s GSM/GPRS (2.5G) and WCDMA (3G) communications processors currently under development. The 2.5G version chip is expected later this year.

He also introduced the Intel PCA hardware and software developer kits for generating Intel-PCA optimized devices and applications.