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Microprocessor
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Top Stories for December 2, 1999 (details below) |
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| ZDNet News | Intel, AMD heat up race to 1GHz |
| C/Net | Bug in new Pentium IIIs hampers boot-up |
| The Register Files | |
| The Register | 815 comes alive with PC-133 support |
| The Register | 1999: Annus Horribilis for Chipzilla |
| The Register | We forgot some Chipzilla blunders... |
| Today's Related Stories | |
| Electronic Buyers' News | Boot-up bug discovered in Intel's desktop Coppermine chips |
| Computer Reseller News | Bug In Some Coppermines Can Affect Boot-Up |
| SiliconValley.com | Intel finds new bug in new Pentium III chips |
| Microprocessor
Headline News Collected By Robert R. Collins |
Week of November 28, 1999 |
Older News |
December 2, 1999 |
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Intel, AMD heat up race to 1GHzBy John Spooner December 1, 1999 |
Just as the space race of the 1960s paid unexpected dividends in the form of new household conveniences,
experts say the spillover from the competition to debut a 1 gigahertz chip is going to drive down computing
costs in the new year and beyond.
Both Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) and Intel Corp. (INTC) have already gone on record saying they expect to reach the gigahertz mark by the end of next year, a claim observers of the chip scene fully expect will be realized. |
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Bug in new Pentium IIIs hampers boot-upBy Michael Kanellos December 1, 1999 |
A bug that complicates starting computers based around "Coppermine" Pentium III processors has been identified, but Intel said it will soon eliminate the problem.
The flaw, or erratum, becomes apparent in the "boot-up" sequence and essentially forces computer owners to hit the "on" button twice, according to Michael Sullivan, an Intel spokesman. If a computer contains a chip with the flaw, it does not start until the second try. |
See Today's Related Stories |
The Register Files |
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815 comes alive with PC-133 supportBy Mike Magee December 1, 1999 |
A chart on a French hardware site has confirmed our report in early November that Intel is adapting its 815 (Solano) chipset to give better support for
AGP.
The chart, which can be found here, shows that the 815 chipset is an evolution of Intel's current i810e chipset, as we reported. According to the site, Intel will introduce the modified 815 chipset in the second quarter of next year, although we have good reason to believe that it will come earlier than that. It will support PC-133 synchronous DRAM. |
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We forgot some Chipzilla blunders...December 1, 1999 |
A reader has pointed out that we missed quite a few other things that Intel got wrong in 1999.
And he adds that there are other factors, earlier in the decade, which ought to be taken into account when judging the company's performance. The author, who wishes to remain sub rosa, said: "It's not too late to insert a comment about Merced too. How about Intel converting the "processor of the next millenium" into a test chip. HP's interest and support for Merced is teetering on the edge. |
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Today's Related Stories |
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Boot-up bug discovered in Intel's desktop Coppermine chipsBy Mark Hachman December 1, 1999 |
A bug within a small number of Intel Corp.'s Coppermine microprocessors has been found, and cautious OEMs are delaying some of their new PCs.
A spokesman for Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., said that the erratum is restricted to the desktop Coppermine microprocessor, although the company is investigating the Xeon workstation version of the Coppermine for the same defect. |
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Bug In Some Coppermines Can Affect Boot-UpBy Marcia Savage December 1, 1999 |
A bug affecting a limited number of the latest Pentium III chips can hold up the PC boot-up process, Intel Corp. said Wednesday.
The erratum can cause intermittent problems in the boot-up of desktop systems based on Intel's newest Pentium III chips, formerly code-named Coppermine, a spokesman said. The flaw can result in a user needing to hit the power button twice to boot-up the PC. |
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Intel finds new bug in new Pentium III chipsBy Reuters December 1, 1999 |
Intel Corp. , the world's largest computer chip maker, said Wednesday that it has found a bug in a small percentage of chips in its new Pentium III family that interferes with the boot-up process in a PC.
The launch of the new Pentium III family, which was unveiled on Oct. 25, had been delayed due to problems with the 820 chipset. The 820 chipset accompanies some versions of the processor and experienced problems with its use of Rambus Inc.'s (RMBS.O) memory enhancing technology. |
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November 30, 1999 |
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AMD ships fastest PC chip, surpasses Intel for nowBy Reuters November 29, 1999 |
Computer chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Monday introduced a new 750 megahertz processor, leapfrogging the world's largest chip maker Intel Corp. with a faster processor for now.
AMD's 750 megahertz Athlon chip gives it a temporary advantage over archrival Intel in the ongoing battle of PC processors. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel's fastest chip is a Pentium III running at 733 megahertz, which it introduced in October. Faster chips are due in the coming months. |
See Today's Related Stories |
AMD rolls out new Athlon, K6-2 chipsNovember 29, 1999 |
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has released a new 750-MHz Athlon microprocessor, as well as a 533-MHz version of its older K6-2 chip.
"With the 750-MHz AMD Athlon, AMD has rolled out the fastest X86 processor of the millennium," claimed Dana Krelle, vice-president of marketing for AMD's Computation Products Group, in a statement. |
See Today's Related Stories |
Intel melds SDRAM, 133MHz busBy Ken Popovich November 29, 1999 |
Intel Corp. is developing a new chip set that supports SDRAM and a 133MHz system bus, offering a
high-bandwidth alternative to its troubled RDRAM chip sets.
The chip set, code-named Solano, will support the PC133 synchronous dynamic RAM specification and is expected to ship in desktop PCs in the first quarter. In addition, sources said Intel is working on a double-data-rate PC266 SDRAM chip set, code-named Amador, for servers that it hopes to make available late next year or early in 2001. |
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NEC readies 16-way Itanium server for 2000By Terho Uimonen November 29, 1999 |
By the second half of 2000, NEC officials expect to ship a 16-way server powered by Intel's forthcoming Itanium processors, running a forthcoming 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 2000, the company announced late last week.
The Tokyo-based computer maker already has a prototype server powered by 16 Itanium processors running a 64-bit version of Windows at its research and development facility in Fuchu, Japan, NEC officials said in a statement. The high-end server was designed with large corporate customers in mind. |
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The Register Files |
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Intel PSN no threat to personal freedomBy Pete Sherriff November 29, 1999 |
So Intel faces yet another threatened blockade on those pesky Pentium IIIs with their evil Processor Serial Numbers, does it?
Give us strength. The STOA (scientific and technological options assessment) committee is presenting its findings to the European Parliament, in connection with the development of surveillance technology and the risk of abuse of economic information. |
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1999: Annus Horribilis for ChipzillaBy Pete Sherriff November 29, 1999 |
This time last year, there were a good few contenders in the x.86 market.
Most, however, were looking a lot less robust than the Intel Corporation, which had spent most of the year thrashing its nearest competitor AMD and stomping over NatSemi's Cyrix brand. IDT's WinChip family had hardly come into the picture at all, while Rise was making noises, but not much more. What a difference a year makes... |
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Intel aims for mobo, processor FUDBy Pete Sherriff November 29, 1999 |
Remember the Intel Overdrive processors? This was Chipzilla's attempt to flog user-upgradeable processors to provide a straightforward power boost to ageing systems.
A year or so back, Intel chopped the whole range claiming that hardly anyone upgraded anyway, they just went out and bought an entire new system. Now Chipzilla is going one better and making it well-high impossible for anyone to upgrade anything by the simple expedient of making the whole process so fraught with uncertainty and doubt that only a masochist would try. |
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Today's Related Stories |
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AMD Tops Intel In Megahertz Race Rolls out 750MHz AthlonBy Marcia Savage November 29, 1999 |
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Monday reclaimed the speed crown from Intel Corp. with a 750MHz Athlon chip.
The new Athlon tops the fastest chip from Intel, the 733MHz Pentium III. OEMs planning to offer systems based on the new processor include Compaq Computer Corp., Houston. "With the 750MHz AMD Athlon processor, AMD has rolled out the fastest x86 processor of the millennium," Dana Krelle, vice president of marketing at AMD, said in a prepared statement. |
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AMD's early Christmas gift: 750MHz AthlonBy John G. Spooner November 29, 1999 |
Advanced Micro Devices Inc., with a new 750MHz version of the Athlon chip, is now offering PC buyers the
highest clockspeed PC processor available. PCs with the new chip will deliver plenty of performance for
high-end computing and taxing applications, such as gaming.
AMD executives boasted earlier that the company had pulled in the launch date for the new Athlon processor from the first quarter of 2000 to the end of the fourth quarter of 1999. Apparently, they weren't kidding. |
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AMD releases 750-MHz AthlonBy Michael Kanellos November 29, 1999 |
Advanced Micro Devices today reclaimed its PC processor speed crown with the release of the 750-MHz Athlon chip, as well as a 533-MHz K6-2 chip for the budget set.
As previously reported, the new processor, which will be priced at $799 in 1,000 unit quantities, is garnering increased interest, in part due to Intel Coppermine delays. PC manufacturers Compaq Computer and IBM are among the supporters of the new chip, which is the fastest PC processor released to date. |
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November 29, 1999 |
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Russian chip design may top Intel's fastestBy Reuters November 24, 1999 |
British investment bank Robert Flemings today said it hopes to nail down funding by the middle of next year for Russian computer engineers who say they have developed a microprocessor that beats anything in the West.
The engineers, who developed computers operating Soviet missile defenses, say their E2K chip runs several times faster than a chip in development by Intel and could roll off assembly lines in three years if they can secure funding. But the Russian team, Elbrus International, has not made an E2K chip yet, but only designed and run simulations. |
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With Timna chip, Intel hopes to make PCs even cheaperBy John G. Spooner November 24, 1999 |
Just when it looked as if computers could not get cheaper, Intel Corp. plans to usher in an age of
minimal-cost PCs -- perhaps as low as $400 -- next year.
And the systems would not only benefit consumers. The chip maker says the new PCs will help manufacturers, whose margins have been squeezed by the sub-$1,000 PC phenomenon, make money at the low end of the price range. |
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Intel's latest Xeon chips getting cool receptionBy Michael Kanellos November 23, 1999 |
While desktop PC makers just can't get enough of Intel's latest Pentium III processors, they don't seem to be as excited about the most recent Xeon chips.
Hewlett-Packard is dropping the Xeon--a more expensive derivative of the Pentium III--from its workstation product lines because of tepid demand. Dell, meanwhile, will not be adopting the newest members of the chip family for its workstations, although it will pick up later versions, executives at the companies said. |
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VIA/Cyrix Joshua: A PreviewBy William Henning November 24, 1999 |
I had the pleasure of meeting with VIA's marketing director Richard Brown and marketing specialist Donald Eubank (and a Cyrix representative whose card I lost) at the recent Comdex in Las Vegas. They were kind enough to discuss some of their processor plans with me.
Since Cyrix was acquired by VIA (who later also acquired Centaur's WinChip processors) people have been wondering about the future of those processor families... after all; VIA had until this time been a chipset manufacturer. |
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What's It All About, Linus?By Leander Kahney November 18, 1999 |
Over the years, the super-secret, celebrity-studded chip company Transmeta has proven to be a repository of a lot of hopes, dreams, and fanciful thinking.
Exactly what was the company -- whose top brass includes Linux creator Linus Torvalds and other prominent names in the business -- working on? In a strategy at odds with the rest of Silicon Valley, Transmeta has kept its lip buttoned since its inception in 1995, uttering not a peep about products or plans. |
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More on Torvalds' Transmeta mystery?By John G. Spooner November 22, 1999 |
The father of Linux drops a few more tantalising clues about where his super-secretive startup is heading.
Linus Torvalds has dropped a few more tantalising clues about where his super-secretive startup is heading. During comments he made to ZD Radio, The founder of Linux hinted that a forthcoming chip being developed by his Transmeta Corporation will be aimed at mobile devices, such as intelligent cellular phones. |
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Details surface as to Intel's chipset road mapBy Jack Robertson November 19, 1999 |
Intel Corp. will unveil a new core-logic chipset lineup next year to fill in product holes caused by its belated decision to support PC133 and double-data-rate PC266
SDRAM, according to industry sources who were briefed recently by the company.
“[Intel will] cover all the bases with its new chipset roadmap,” said Charles Glavin, an analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. “Unless Intel openly supports a variety of [memory] alternatives, it could have boxed itself into a corner. We now believe that the remaining gaps in Intel's chipset products will be filled.” |
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Intel's USB development plan raises hackles at Phoenix TechnologiesBy Mark Hachman November 27, 1999 |
Concerns over validating next-generation Universal Serial Bus silicon are creating a conflict among chip manufacturers eager to rush their products to market.
By restricting part of its USB 2.0 specification to just two partners, Intel Corp. is preventing other companies from gaining a time-to-market advantage, executives at Phoenix Technologies Ltd. charged last week. When asked to respond, however, Intel said the standard's technical complexity is forcing it to limit the number of third-party design teams. |
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AMD's 750-MHz Athlon to arrive MondayBy Michael Kanellos November 24, 1999 |
Advanced Micro Devices will once again take back the PC processor speed crown when it releases its 750-MHz Athlon chip on Monday, sources said.
The new chip, which will be the fastest PC processor released to date, may also coincide with an announcement that Gateway is adopting the Athlon for its consumer computers, sources close to the company said. Earlier this year, Gateway halted an Athlon project, according to sources, and subsequently eliminated AMD chips from its product line. Consumer interest in Athlon--combined with the difficulties some PC makers say they are having in getting large volumes of the fastest Intel "Coppermine" Pentium III processors--are pushing some major computer makers to take a second look at Athlon. |
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The Register Files |
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Intel faces possible Euro block on Pentium IIIsBy Mike Magee November 28, 1999 |
A report from the STOA Committee of the European Union has suggested that the economic bloc look long and hard at the implications of Intel's personal serial number
(PSN) embedded in the Pentium III microprocessor.
(We know it's really dubbed the processor serial number, but our substitution of personal seems oh so apposite.) The STOA (scientific and technological options assessment) committe is presenting its findings to the European Parliament, in connection with the development of surveillance technology and the risk of abuse of economic information. |
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Intel loses big industry face to AMD over CoppermineBy Mike Magee November 25, 1999 |
Chip giant Intel pre-announced the 733MHz version of its Coppermine Pentium III along with a heap of other .18 micron processors on the 25th of October last. But now the evidence is mounting that we're only likely to see systems introduced by major vendors in January of next year.
Both Gateway and HP have confirmed to us in the last week that they're not selling systems using the 733MHz processors yet, while as we also reported, other major OEMs think Intel's Coppermine is pants. |
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AMD wins major battle in Intel price warBy Mike Magee November 25, 1999 |
There will be no price reductions on existing Athlon processors when AMD introduces its 750MHz microprocessor next Monday, sources only a cigarette packet away from the company said today.
That represents a major victory for AMD against Intel, and shows that the upstart chip firm is beginning to make the chip giant feel the pain. The sources said that AMD will introduce the 750MHz Athlon at around $795 or so, but will keep prices of other chips in the same family stable. |
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AMD patents chip design...By Mike Magee November 24, 1999 |
Boffins working away in the AMD labs have just patented a couple of interesting pieces of technology.
The first, which is a superscalar microprocessor including a high speed alignment unit, describes a way of transferring a fixed number of instructions from the instruction cache to each of a plurality of decode units. |
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Caminogate IV -- We have no idea what you did last summerBy Pete Sherriff November 23, 1999 |
The world+dog knows that Chipzilla's chipset from Hell, Camino, has a problem counting above two when it comes to RDRAM DIMMS. Less well-known is the fact that two is -- by a remarkable coincidence -- also the maximum number of PC100 SDRAM modules that Intel's Cape Cod i820 mobo can deal with.
Worse than that, if you want to mix and match DIMMs, you need to adhere to a mind-numbingly complex table to be found on the Intel web site if you want the damn thing to work. |
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Intel to demo 1GHz IA-32 chip Feb 2000By Mike Magee November 24, 1999 |
Chip giant Intel will demonstrate a 1GHz IA32 processor at a semiconductor conference early next year, it has emerged.
The company will use 2000 IEEE International Solid State Circuits conference, which starts on the 7th of February in San Franciso, to outline the features of the processor, which is likely to be the long-awaited (and late) Willamette chip. And Intel is sticking to aluminium for the interconnects rather than copper, according to the programme. |
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Intel trashes huge Gateway rebate schemeBy Mike Magee November 24, 1999 |
Earlier this year we reported that Intel had managed to persuade PC manufacturer Gateway to pull out of producing machines using AMD Athlon processors by offering a large rebate scheme to the company.
Details have now emerged about just how much that scheme was worth, and why Gateway, as we reported yesterday, now intends to use the Athlon processor after all. |
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AMD wins must shiver Intel's timbersBy Mike Magee November 22, 1999 |
There's definitely a breakaway faction amongst the top tier PC manufacturers and here at The Register we know only too well their names.
They number not only Compaq, Fujitsu and Siemens amongst their ranks, but other, less volatile players who are in the top tier of the industry, and multinational companies with it. But these major Intel stalwarts are only reluctantly, and rather slowly, showing their heads above the parapet, fearful of losing their life if they cheese off the Great Satan of Chips. |
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