Intel has formally released details of its Mendocino based microprocessors, after they were leaked on US wires. The company is rolling out a 450MHz Pentium II and two Celeron chips which use the new Mendocino core – the 333MHz and 300A MHz. The chips are determinedly aimed at the low end of the market with prices to match and pose questions about whether Intel’s earlier Celeron strategy was sound. Intel is claiming that its 450MHz Pentium II will deliver a 10 per cent performance boost over the 400MHz PII. The new Celerons come with 128Kb of level two cache and were brought forward for release. They were supposed to be released later on this year, suggesting that Intel is now pushing hard at the entry level PC market. (See earlier story, Celeron 266MHz price slashing). When bought in units of 1,000 or so, the 450MHz, will cost $669. The Mendocino-Celerons are much cheaper, coming in at prices of $192 for the 333MHz part and $149 for the 300MHz part. ® Intel, Senor Mendocino, Madame Celeron and Monsieur MHz are not investors in The Register