Intel to Premiere 1GHz Chip Amongst Others

At the upcoming semiannual Intel Developers Convention in Palm Springs, California, Intel plans to debute the 32-bit "Willamette" processor capable of "well in excess of 1GHz." Along with this chip, the chip making giant plans on discussing its new Itanium processor, and the new low-end processor codenamed Timna, which combines graphics, sound, and system processing on a single chip.

Willamette is hoping to lead the way in running PCs capitalizing on new broadband technology to connect to the Internet. Intel believes that this new processor technology will be able to handle the streaming digital media and multimedia content that has been made available to individuals via broadband Internet access.

Willamette will be manufactured using Intel's 0.18 micron process, and will contain Willamette Processor New Instructions, defined as single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) instructions. Tehama, a new chip set designed to support Rambus Direct RAM, will also support Willamette to increase speeds and system performance.

Intel's Timna chip has been known about for quite some time. This new low-end processor will combine new technologies developed specifically for it by Intel, combining graphics processing and a memory controller to decrease overall computer cost. Read more about Timna on BetaNews.

Willamette will be available for PCs by the end of this year, and Intel's 64-bit processor code-named Itanium will be ready in the third quarter. Visit Intel.com to read more about Willamette.