Intel Corporation today unveils its new Pentium 4 processor clocked at 3.20GHz with extreme performance resulting from additional 2MB of L3 cache. The CPU comes as an answer to AMD’s Athlon 64 FX-51 microprocessor also released today.

The new CPU is based on the server core known under Gallatin code-name. The processor, however, only boasts with additional cache, but does not support SMP. The new Pentium 4 Extreme Edition is fully compatible with existing Socket 478 infrastructure and 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus. With 512KB of L2 cache and 2MB of L3 cache, Intel wants to offer an alternative to AMD's high-end Athlon 64 processors with 1MB of L2 cache.

Talking about performance of Intel’s Pentium 4 Extreme Edition I do not expect it to seriously outperform AMD’s Athlon 64 FX-51 chip running at 2.20GHz, though, with the release of the new Pentium 4 chip, AMD’s new CPUs will not be considered as the indisputable performance leaders in the desktop CPU market.

In the year 1999 AMD launched its original AMD Athlon processor based on Argon core grabbing performance crown from Intel for the first time in history. Four years ago Intel could not offer any Pentium III chip for successful competition with AMD offerings, but this year the Santa Clara, California-based company wants to be in position to offer an alternative for AMD’s microprocessor at any cost, even by offering “nearly server’s” processor at desktop CPUs’ price point.

By releasing Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor with 3.20GHz core-clock and 2MB of additional cache, Intel aims to leave AMD without one of its main trumps: performance leadership. However, AMD’s main advantage is that AMD Athlon 64-series are 64-bit processors compatible with today’s 32-bit applications, while Intel’s desktop chips are all 32-bit only.

It is interesting to note that even before issuing official press-release about the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor, Intel put up a web-page concerning this monstrous CPU on its web-site over here.

Sources close to the world’s largest semiconductor maker indicate that Pentium 4 Extreme Edition will not be available immediately, but will emerge in the market in later this year, probably in the fourth quarter. Pricing of the part will be from $700 to $800 in quantities starting from 1000 units.

Be sure to read our article “AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 vs. Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.2GHz: Clash of Strong Wills” to find out more information about performance of the new 64-bit chips from AMD in comparison to Intel’s Pentium 4 Extreme Edition CPU.