Intel 'Going for AMD's balls'
PrintChipzilla brings forward 2GHz P4
Posted in Channel, 13th November 2000 10:03 GMT
Free research: Application platforms, the state of play
Geeks rushing to buy early P4s at marked up prices are going to look pretty dumb come January when Intel's Flagchip will hit 2GHz. The chip is not scheduled to launch for another week (at 1.4 and 1.5GHz), but a number of retailers are already offering the part for sale.
Pentium 4 yields are 'excellent', Intel sources told The Register today and the chip will hit 2GHz in January - up to three months earlier than planned.
"Things are starting to look up," said a senior Intel representative who requested anonymity. "Yields on P4 are excellent and there are going to be lots of parts available much earlier than originally anticipated.
"Expect to see P4 much earlier than on the roadmap - we're aggressively going for AMD's balls on the speed front. DirectX 8 is ready and lots of apps and games have been optimised, many more than for the PIII launch, which was a real cockup."
Asked if by 'much earlier' he meant January, the source grinned broadly and replied: "I couldn't possibly comment."
He also confirmed that P4 will get support for DDR SDRAM in Q2 and added that earnings for the current quarter were 'looking good'.
As recently as two weeks ago, roadmaps showed Pentium 4 at 1.7GHz or more in Q1, reaching 2GHz or above in Q2. ®
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