'Prescott,' 'Banias' processors to debut in 2003

The company has announced a 2003 release for its next-generation desktop processor code-named "Prescott." This was announced, along with several other upcoming products, in the recently concluded Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. The releases are aimed at strengthening the company's processor portfolio on desktop and notebook PCs, as well as wireless devices.

Based on the company's NetBurst microarchitecture, "Prescott" features hyper-threading technology that allows OSs to view a single physical processor as if it were two, thereby increasing platform performance.

The NetBurst architecture provides a 400MHz system bus, rapid execution engine, execution trace cache, advanced transfer cache and dynamic execution, and streaming SIMD extensions.

"Intel is driving a number of innovative technologies over the next year that will accelerate the digital convergence at home and continue to enhance our desktop platform capabilities, including higher performing processors and revolutionary new form factors," said Louis Burns, VP and GM for Intel's Desktop Platforms Group.

Burns also demonstrated a Pentium 4 processor running at clock rates of up to 4GHz and announced the company's support for the 3GIO architecture that enables high-speed interconnection between devices within the computer.

Mobile PCs

Also announced at the IDF were the forthcoming Pentium 4-M mobile processor and details of the 2.5G and 3G communications processors for wireless devices, the company' Personal Client Architecture developer network and a new Mobility Enabling Program.

Anand Chandrasekher, VP and GM of Intel's Mobile Platforms Groups demonstrated the mobile Pentium 4 processor by decoding a 1080i (HDTV quality) signal on a laptop. The mobile processor will also feature Enhanced SpeedStep technology, and Deeper Sleep for low power state and small mobile packaging for thinner, lighter mobile PCs.

And to add further proof of Intel's commitment to the mobile PC market, Chandrasekhar announced a 2003 release for "Banias"—Intel's next-generation mobile processor based on the Odem chipset. He also announced the Mobility Enabling Program initiative to bring the industry together and create guidelines for the next-generation of mobile PCs.

"Intel is leading the industry to support the Mobility Enabling Program," said Chandrasekher. "Together the industry can deliver exciting new platforms that meet the promise of anytime, anywhere computing and secure connectivity."

Wireless Device

On the wireless market, Ron Smith, SVP and GM of the Wireless Communications and Computing Group, focused developers' attention on Intel's wireless client product strategy.

Intel's wireless products are built around three core technologies—the Xscale microarchitecture for applications processing, the Micro Signal Architecture for signal processing, and the company's wireless Flash memory.

These technologies are the key ingredients of the Personal Internet Client Architecture, Intel's development blueprint for designing wireless handheld communication products that combine voice communications and Internet access capabilities.

Future wireless technology from Intel will integrate communications functions, processing power and memory features onto a single "Wireless Internet on a Chip"—the foundation for Intel's GSM/GPRS (2.5G) and WCDMA (3G) communications processors currently under development.

Intel has a 3G communications processor test chip in its labs and will be introducing a 2.5G version based on the Wireless Internet on a Chip technology later this year.

Smith introduced Intel PCA hardware and software developer kits for generating Intel PCA-optimized devices and applications. The software kit features a full tool suite for IBM WebSphere Everyplace Embedded Software suitable for the Intel PCA.

The Intel PCA Developer Network offers wireless companies development, technical and marketing support for designing cell phones, personal digital assistants and other mobile Internet devices and applications supporting Intel PCA.