Tony & Intel Investors - Intel's Mobile Coppermine with SpeedStep Technology is set to be launched on January 18, 2000.
It will allow for 600 MHz Operation in a mobile PC (Notebook) when running off the AC/DC adapter, then throttle back to 450 MHz when running off DC batteries only.
Faster versions - up to 700 MHz - will be introduced later in the year.
"The benefit of using SpeedStep's Battery Optimized Mode for the user is in increased battery life while running on battery power, according to Intel, although the company has not said how long it expects battery life to be extended. Battery life for 450MHz Pentium III-based notebooks, in general, averages between three and four hours."
Note that AMD's copy-cat technology is also discussed - but it appears at least a calendar quarter behind Intel's - and seems destined for AMD's Kmart 62 low end chips.
Also note - the author doesn't know the difference between Voltage and Power !!!
"Gemini will reduce the K6-2+ chip's core voltage from about 2.0 watts to 1.5 watts, AMD officials said."
I guess that's why he's a journalist - and not an engineer !
Paul
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dailynews.yahoo.com
Wednesday December 29 02:30 PM EST
New mobile PIII to save on batteries
John G. Spooner, ZDNet
Notebook PCs will get more power and longer battery life in January with the release of a mobile Pentium III processor from Intel Corp.
But Intel's chief rival, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., will not be far behind in offering similar technology.
The new technology will allow Intel to increase chip speed without compromising battery life.
The new mobile Pentium III, a 600MHz chip to be announced Jan. 18, according to sources, will give users a 100MHz jump in clock speed from the current top mobile Pentium III chip and at the same time deliver the first implementation of Intel's (Nasdaq: INTC - news) SpeedStep Technology.
SpeedStep, formerly known by the code-name Geyserville, will lower power consumption and extend battery life while the notebook is running on battery power, according to Intel.
It will do so by automatically sensing when a user switches from alternating current, or AC, power to battery power. At this point it will reduce the voltage of the processor, which in turn decreases its clock speed.
The chip will run at a 600MHz clock speed in Maximum Performance Mode while on AC power. However, when the notebook user unplugs the machine, it will automatically switch to a Battery Optimized Mode, which will reduce voltage and lower the clock speed to 450MHz.
Users can also control the feature via an applet installed on the machine, in order to run in Maximum Performance Mode -- should they so choose -- while on battery power.
Intel steps to SpeedStep
The benefit of using SpeedStep's Battery Optimized Mode for the user is in increased battery life while running on battery power, according to Intel, although the company has not said how long it expects battery life to be extended. Battery life for 450MHz Pentium III-based notebooks, in general, averages between three and four hours.
All of Intel's new mobile chips will offer SpeedStep Technology.
Intel is expected to ship a 650MHz mobile Pentium III later in the first quarter. A 700MHz mobile PIII is expected to follow in the second quarter, with a 750MHz version arriving the second half of 2000.
The forthcoming 650MHz mobile Pentium III will run at 650MHz in Maximum Performance Mode and 500MHz in Battery Optimized Mode, Intel officials have said.
Intel also plans to offer a version of its SpeedStep Technology for mini-notebooks. Due in the second half of 2000, the feature will reduce the core voltage of those chips from 1.35 volts to 1.1 volts, Intel officials have said.
AMD on the move
While Intel will begin shipping mobile Pentium III chips with SpeedStep in mid-January, AMD (NYSE: AMD - news) appears to be only a few steps behind with a power-shifting feature of its own.
The company at Fall Comdex previewed a similar technology, code-named Gemini, and made public plans to offer it with the forthcoming mobile K6-2+ processor in the first half of next year.
The K6-2+ is expected to debut in the first quarter at 500MHz or higher, AMD officials said. However they indicated that Gemini would not be available until later in the year.
Gemini is similar to Intel's SpeedStep Technology in that it reduces clock speed, which in turn reduces voltage. Both technologies will benefit consumers who purchase notebooks by giving them longer notebook battery life.
Gemini will reduce the K6-2+ chip's core voltage from about 2.0 watts to 1.5 watts, AMD officials said.
See this story in context on ZDNet |
