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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RDM who wrote (47123)	1/24/1999 12:56:00 AM
From: RDM	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1571735

February 01, 1999, Issue: 1002 Section: Windows News -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hardware -- Let the Chips Fall ... Jonathan Blackwood and Jim Forbes If you're a business user in the market for a new PC, brace yourself: Chip makers have begun their most aggressive rollout of new technology ever, which means you can expect whole new generations of faster, more powerful and innovative processors. Here's a road map of what you'll see this year to help make your buying decisions a bit easier. The parade of new technology was kicked off by Advanced Micro Devices, which in early January launched a 400MHz version of its AMD-K6-2 with 3DNow technology. Designed for computers with the 100MHz Super7 architecture, the new processor is used largely in desktop machines sold to home and small-business users. AMD is squeezing more life out of its K6 line by moving the level 2 cache on-chip. The resulting chip, the AMD-K6-3 (code-named Sharptooth) should be faster than a Pentium II running at the same clock speed; it should be available by the time you read this. Chip behemoth Intel has a slew of new products coming down the pike this year. Expected first are faster mobile Pentium II processors and more capable versions of its low-end Celeron family. The new mobile Pentium II processors will have 366MHz clock speeds, and will likely be used by some portable makers in notebooks designed to serve as desktop replacements. The first batch of new Celerons-which was slated for release in January-has 366MHz clock speeds and incorporates on-chip level 2 cache, which allows the cache to run at the full speed of the processor (some earlier Celerons had off-chip level 2 cache, which runs at half the processor's clock speed). Katmai kicks off But Intel's most eagerly awaited launch will come early this spring, when the company will debut its Katmai family of processors. Based on the Pentium II, Katmai includes 70 new instructions. The new code is said to improve the execution of applications that use 3D graphics, streaming data types and other forms of data-making it ideal for high-end multimedia machines. Initially, Intel is expected to release versions of Katmai with clock speeds of up to 500MHz. However, the company's move to a 0.18-micron fabrication process from its current 0.25-micron process by midyear will facilitate even faster clock speeds. Katmai-equipped PCs are expected to launch at about $2,500. But prices could drop quickly, and by the end of 1999 a fully equipped 500MHz Katmai-powered PC might cost only $1,400, notes Dataquest analyst Martin Reynolds. In addition to mainstream chips such as the Pentium II, Intel will apply Katmai instructions to its Xeon and mobile Pentium II processors. The chip giant is also expected to introduce later this year a line of mobile processors that operate at two speeds: 466MHz when a notebook is running on batteries, and up to 600MHz when it's plugged into a wall outlet. Notebook makers are expected to use the processor to introduce new docking stations that will be part of a standard notebook configuration. Some of the docking stations under design include mechanical connections that will help dissipate heat from a notebook when it's running at the higher speed. Waiting on Merced Since Intel's long-awaited 64-bit Merced processor isn't likely to see the light of day this year, some of the company's rivals are expected to use this lag time to their advantage by introducing new high-end chips aimed at the workstation and server markets. AMD will be introducing its new AMD-K7 sometime during the first half of this year, which is expected to be functionally equivalent to Intel's Xeon but less expensive. The chip will likely be introduced at 500MHz. Cyrix/National Semiconductor is continuing efforts to produce a "system-on-a-chip" that would integrate not only the functions we've come to expect in a PC, but also a television tuner, digital television transport and other features. These new, highly integrated chips would facilitate the development of "information appliances" such as intelligent alarm clocks, kitchen keypads and Automobile PCs. Also in the works: The Jalapeno, which is capable of 600MHz-plus and is likely to debut in the second half of this year, and the new M3, which is expected to begin shipping by the end of this year. Copyright ® 1999 CMP Media Inc.

To: RDM who wrote (47123)	1/24/1999 12:26:00 PM
From: Paul Engel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1571735

RDM - Re: " " Purdy says Compaq's best selling desktop PC is a Presario powered by an AMD K6." Sounds like his information is OUT OF DATE. crw.com Compaq, Packard Bell SKUs Strong in December Aaron Ricadela Reston, Va. 11:27 AM EDT, Wed., Jan. 20, 1999 Compaq Computer supplied the two best-selling PCs to retailers in December, and combined with Packard Bell NEC to claim seven of the top 10 SKUs for the month, according to market research company PC Data, based here. Compaq's Presario 5170, sporting a 350MHz Pentium II processor, 10GB hard drive, Zip drive, and an average selling price of $1,245, was the best-selling home computer in December, with 8 percent of the retail market by unit share, PC Data reported. Compaq's Presario 5150, with a 350MHz Advanced Micro Devices K6-2 chip, 8GB hard drive, and an average price of $1,045, ranked second, accounting for 7.1 percent of the PCs retailers sold in December. {=============================} Intel had 4 of the TOP 10 best selling RETAIL PCs in December - AMD had only 2. Paul