Well, we continue our story on Intel’s plans based on the info we received from a very reliable source of ours. Very serious changes should happen to the mobile part of the processor market. Let us offer you some exciting details.

First of all, we would like to point out that Banias processor has finally got a real name. It will be called “Pentium M”. Well, one more Pentium... But what else did you expect? The money invested into the promotion of the Pentium brand is so enormous and this work has become so dear to the customers and users that Intel will hardly ever dare change it without really good reasons. By the way, we wonder if Intel is not afraid of some confusion that may arise among customers. The company has already got a product called Pentium 4-M in its product range, and the bigger number in the name is usually associated with better features and higher performance. How will Intel explain to its customers that Pentium M is better than Pentium 4-M? No idea yet... However, the same question can be addressed to the clock rate of the new Pentium M processor. But if we can think of a way to solve the matter in case of core clock frequencies difference by introducing some rating or the like, then we have absolutely no idea how to solve the confusion with the model numbers...

Also one more name change is about to take place. This time the name change touched upon the wireless sets formerly known as Calexico 802.11b and Calexico Dual-band. The new names will sound as PRO/Wireless 2100 and PRO/Wireless 2100A. To avoid confusion we would like to remind you that the recently announced Centrino brand name will imply sets including Pentium M processors, i855 chipsets for them and wireless sets.

As for some specific info about Pentium M processor family, there is hardly anything new we could share. In this quarter we will welcome Pentium M working at 1.3GHz-1.6GHz. In Q2 Intel will launch Pentium M 1.7GHz. In Q4 – Pentium M with 2MB L2 cache based on Dothan core manufactured with 0.09micron technology. These CPUs will support 1.8GHz+ core clock.

Also in March Intel is going to release Pentium M with lower power consumption, heat dissipation and frequency, of course. These will be the LV (low-voltage) model working at 1.1GHz and ULV (ultra-low voltage) model working at 900MHz. Later on we will see Pentium M LV 1.2GHz and Pentium M ULV 1GHz.

And now we would like to say a few words about a more common Pentium 4-M processor family. This quarter Intel will announce Pentium 4-M 2.4GHz, next quarter – Pentium 4-M 2.5GHz, and in Q3 – Pentium 4-M 2.6GHz. All these processors will feature 512KB L2 cache and will support 400MHz bus. Then in the same Q3 Intel is going to start making Pentium 4-M, supporting 533MHz bus. These processors will work at 3.06GHz, and in Q4 they will also launch a similar model working at 3.2GHz. Pentium 4-M mobile processors based on Prescott core are to appear in the market in Q1 2004 and will start at 3.4GHz.