Desktop Prescotts to ship in notebooks ahead of Mobile version

Notebook vendors are expected to continue the trend of crammed desktop processors into mobile computers, this time using the 'Prescott' Pentium 4 chips launched yesterday.

Desktop-replacement notebooks based on the 90nm chip should arrive later this quarter, ahead of Q2's introduction of Mobile P4s based on the new technology.

Prescott's large power draw - larger than the 130nm Pentium 4's, clock for clock - is likely to restrict the new line of notebooks to lower clock frequencies. For higher speeds, we will have to wait for the Mobile part.

But there's a price advantage for going with the desktop product. Mobile Prescott processors are expected to ship at 3.06, 3.2 and 3.46GHz, all with a 533MHz effective bit rate frontside bus, and priced at $234, $294 and $433, respectively.

By contrast, the desktop Prescotts at 2.8, 3, 3.2 and 3.4GHz, with an 800MHz FSB, are priced at $178, $218, $278 and $417, respectively. ®