Intel Slows Mobile Pentium 4 "Prescott" Down

by Anton Shilov
02/09/2004 | 03:26 AM

Intel is not expected to supply 3.40GHz Pentium 4 E processors until next month, moreover, it decided to postpone the 3.73GHz version of its Mobile Pentium 4 E processor until the first quarter of next year, people familiar with the company’s plans told X-bit labs.

The new “Prescott” microprocessors made using 90nm fabrication technology dissipate too much heat when working at higher frequencies and may also experience some yield issues. Although Intel confirmed that there had been process-related problems with Pentium 4 “Prescott” and Pentium M “Dothan” chips, the company did not elaborate whether all possible difficulties with the microprocessors and their manufacturing technology had been resolved; meanwhile the firm pushed back the launch of the new Pentium M as well as postponed the 90nm Pentium 4 3.40GHz supplies.

Mobile Pentium 4 E processors with the Hyper-Threading technology are now also slated for release in Q2 2004, a quarter later than initially planned. The first 90nm chips for portable PCs will be clocked at 2.80GHz, 3.06GHz and 3.20GHz, will feature 1MB L2 as well as 533MHz processor system bus. Faster flavours of the Mobile Pentium 4 E CPU will be available in Q3 and Q4 – 3.46GHz and 3.60GHz respectively. The Intel Mobile Pentium 4 E processor 3.73GHz originally meant to be introduced in the third quarter 2004, are now scheduled for the first quarter 2005.

Intel Mobile Pentium 4 processors are intended for full-size desktop replacement notebook computers. Since such machines are not meant for continuous operation outside home or office, CPU power consumption is not really important for such PCs. Still, heat dissipation may become an issue for this kind of applications due to space constraints.

Apparently, Intel does want to continue its NetBurst Mobile Celeron processors for DTR laptops as well. According to the most recent plans, Mobile Celeron central processing units with clocks-speeds at 3.06GHz, 2.80GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.53GHz will launch in the second quarter. 3.20GHz, 3.33GHz and 3.46GHz Mobile Celeron processors are set to be introduced in Q3 2004, Q4 2004 and Q1 2005 respectively. All the 90nm Mobile Celeron parts with Prescott core inside will boast with 533MHz Quad Pumped Bus and 256KB of secondary-level cache.

A peculiarity of Intel’s CPUs for DTR computers is relatively low price compared to processors tailored for operation in mobile applications. Intel Mobile Pentium 4 E 3.20GHz, 3.06GHz and 2.80GHz products will cost $294, $234 and $202 at launch respectively. Intel Mobile Celeron 2.80GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.53GHz SKUs will be priced at $109, $85 and $75 when released in volume quantities.

The main advantage of the new 90nm processors for desktop replacement laptops is higher clock-speed compared to 130nm brethren. Other advantages, such as SSE3 technology, are not tangible at present, as software makers still need to catch up with the world’s largest chipmaker to take advantage of the innovations Intel’s new processors may have.

Representatives for Santa Clara, California-based chipmaker did not comment on the report.