Intel launched five new mobile processors today, including its fastest Pentium III, a 750MHz chip, and two low-power chips that consume an average of less than 1 watt of power.
As expected, the chip maker announced the 750MHz mobile Pentium III as well as a 600MHz Pentium III and a 500MHz Celeron that require less than 1 watt to run. Intel also unveiled 600MHz and 650MHz mobile Celerons. The two Pentium III chips use Intel's SpeedStep technology, which varies power consumption depending on the application in an effort to increase the battery life of notebook PCs.
Intel's announcement precedes PC Expo, the industry tradeshow in New York next week where several major OEMs, and longtime Intel customers, are expected to demonstrate mini-notebook PCs using a new processor from a new Intel rival, Transmeta.
"Competition is not new, we've seen it across the board at different times," said Frank Spindler, vice president, Intel Architecture Group, and general manager, Mobile Platforms Group. "We always treat competition very seriously and we'll continue driving performance and capability.
"I'd also caution you to distinguish between a technology demonstration and real products that are shipping and available," added Spindler, referring to the Transmeta notebook PCs expected to be demonstrated at PC Expo vs. laptops based on Intel's new chips, which are available now from most major notebook PC makers.
The Transmeta challenge
Transmeta has designed two chips that are being manufactured by IBM -- the 500MHz to 700MHz TM5400, which runs Windows and is designed for notebook PCs, and the 333MHz to 400MHz TM3200, designed for mobile appliances that run Mobile Linux, a distribution of the open-source operating system developed by Transmeta.
The Intel chip competing most directly with Transmeta's TM5450 for a home in notebook PCs is the new 600MHz Pentium III. It operates at 1.1 volts and consumes an average of less than a watt when operating in Battery Optimising Mode.
Transmeta claims its TM5450 operates at less than a watt when a system is running a typical business application, and as low as 8 milliwatts when between key strokes. The chip uses Transmeta's LongRun technology, a power-saving technology similar in purpose to Intel's SpeedStep that can vary a processor's frequency in 33MHz increments. A 700MHz TM5450, for instance, can power all the way down to 200MHz in 15 33MHz steps.
Intel's SpeedStep, on the other hand, allows the processor to perform at two frequencies. The new 600MHz Pentium III, for example, can run at 600MHz or power down to 500MHz.
Without discussing details, Spindler said Intel too is interested in Linux for mobile systems.
"Generally we've seen more interest [in Linux] in the server space and not in the mobile space," he said. "Unix-based OSes, in general, aren't power-friendly, but we're seeing some promising things in that area. We are definitely looking at opportunities."
Intel's new high-end chip, the 750MHz Pentium III, is priced at US$562 in quantities of 1,000. The 600MHz Pentium is US$316, the 650MHz Celeron is US$181, the 600MHz Celeron is US$134 and the 500MHz Pentium III is US$134, all in quantities of 1,000.
