Intel Plugs Into Laptop Demand With Fast Chip

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday January 19, 2000

By DARREN YATES

Intel will today release a revolutionary new notebook chip technology that is expected to herald a greater level of performance from new notebook PCs.

Previously codenamed ``Geyserville", SpeedStep will enable vendors to release notebook computers that offer more speed and better battery life, satisfying the needs of business users.

The technology will feature in new 650MHz mobile Pentium III processors to be announced by Intel today, coinciding with the launch of SpeedStep notebooks from major vendors including Toshiba, IBM and Dell.

According to Mr Sean Casey, Intel Australia's channel platform engineer, the main benefit for business users is the ability to get rid of the desktop computer altogether.

``With SpeedStep, it's really the `no-compromise' desktop replacement. And I think with corporates [corporate users], that's a big transition we're seeing from `I have a desktop and a laptop' to `I just have a laptop'," Mr Casey said.

Mr Casey quoted figures from IDC that 51 per cent of mobile users will purchase another notebook computer this year but that 80 per cent of users believe their present mobile chip lacks enough power to do the job.

The key feature of these new notebooks is that they will run at 650MHz when plugged into the AC mains outlet and at 500MHz when running on battery.

The top speed on the desktop today is 800MHz.

At the same time, the new processor will consume only half as much power when running on battery yet provide users with only a marginal drop in performance.

It is this power reduction that will also enable notebooks to offer better battery life than before. Mr Casey believed this would translate into more than three hours of battery life but with greater processing muscle.

Intel says this is the first time that a processor of this kind has been released, one that is optimised for performance on both mains and battery power.

The technology will also enable vendors to release fast, lightweight sub-notebooks that offer superior levels of performance to those now available.

Notebook PCs that include SpeedStep technology will have to run the gauntlet of Intel's new certification program.

Mr Casey says buyers should look out for notebooks with the ``SpeedStep-ready" sticker as proof of their ability to handle the new chips.