The world’s largest maker of semiconductors Intel Corp. announced intention to discontinue its Celeron processors produced using 0.13 micron process technology for desktop applications. The supplies will be halted this year for boxed versions and early next year for tray versions of products.

Intel Corp.’s notification for its partners reads that the last date to order Intel Celeron processors 2.50GHz, 2.60GHz, 2.70GHz and 2.80GHz is May 20, 2005. The last shipment date for boxed versions of central processing units is the 21^st October, 2005, whereas tray flavours may be supplied to the extent of March 24, 2006. Intel will continue to supply the Celeron processors for embedded applications as long as there is demand, the company indicated.

Intel’s move reflects the company’s commitment to withdraw processors produced using 130nm process technology from the lineup, as the company’s more advanced 90nm technology allows to manufacture higher performance processors at lower cost. Late last year Intel announced discontinuance plans for  Intel Pentium 4 processors at 2.80GHz, 3.00GHz, 3.20GHz and 3.40GHz with 800MHz processor system bus and 512KB of L2 cache.

Intel Celeron processors produced using 0.13 micron process technology use 478-pin packaging, integrates 128KB of L2 cache and features 400MHz Quad Pumped Bus. The chips are drop-in compatible with platforms based on i845-, i865-series of chipsets and other similar platforms for Intel Socket 478 processors from companies like VIA, SiS or ATI Technologies.

Intel Celeron D processors based on the Prescott core with 256KB of L2 cache work with higher-frequency Quad Pumped Bus of 533MHz and are made using thinner 90nm fabrication process. Thee processors are compatible with practically all platforms for Socket 478 CPUs and also fit into Socket 775 infrastructure. Intel Celeron D chips are available at speeds from 2.40GHz to 3.06GHz.