The world’s largest chipmaker Intel Corp. has quietly added several Intel Pentium 4 500-series processors with 64-bit capability turned on into its price-list. The company did not specifically announce the chips, but their addition to the list means that the firm is actually shipping them and even users in budget would shortly take advantage of the 64-bit technology.

Intel’s lineup of EM64T- and EDB-enabled Intel Pentium 4 processors 500-series, as expected, consists of models 571, 561, 551, 541, 531 and 521, which are clocked at 3.80GHz, 3.60GHz, 3.40GHz, 3.20GHz, 3.00GHz and 2.80GHz respectively. The new chips substitute Intel Pentium 4 models 570, 560, 550, 540, 530 and 520 on the market, the world’s largest chipmaker indicated. The new microprocessors support Hyper-Threading tech, are equipped with 1MB of L2 cache, designed to be drop-in compatible with LGA775 infrastructure with 800MHz processor system bus and retain thermal specs similar to predecessors. Intel also has plans to intro a 2.66GHz chip without HT that use 533MHz processor system bus, but still sports EM64T. The only thing needed to use the new 64-bit processors with already installed mainboards is BIOS support for the EM64T.

Pricing of the new 64-bit chips is expected to be similar to that of Intel Pentium 4 500-series processors that are 32-bit only. Depending on the clock-speed Intel Pentium 4 500-series processors are priced in the range between $163 and $637.

Up to now Intel has shipped its 64-bit Pentium 4 processors 600-series with up to 3.80GHz clock-speed that contain 2MB of L2 cache, support EM64T, HT, EIST, EDB technologies, and are also compatible with 800MHz PSB LGA775 infrastructure, such as mainboards based on i915- and i925-series chipsets. Intel’s dual-core desktop products also support 64-bit. Previously the company also supplied a special family of Intel Pentium 4 products for servers and workstations, but in May the firm said it would discontinue the series.

Intel is also expected to release its Intel Celeron D chips with EM64T capability later during the year.

On the 30th of June, 2005, the chip giant is expected to slash the prices on a wide range of its products.