Microprocessor
Headline News

Top Stories for February 11, 2000 (details below)
C/Net	Via set to unveil Intel processor competitor
EE Times	Via downplays ITC probe
Tech-Review.com	Transmeta's Crusoe Processor -- an in-depth look
ZD Net UK	The Great Processor Strike of 2000
EE Times	Inside the GHz processors
The Register Files
The Register	Willamette it or won't it?
Today's Related Stories
PC Week Online	Via set to debut low-cost 'Joshua' processor

Microprocessor Headline News

Collected By Robert R. Collins

Week of February 6, 2000

Older News

February 11, 2000
Via set to unveil Intel processor competitor By Michael Kanellos February 10, 2000 C/Net	Via Technologies will introduce its low-cost processor on Feb. 22, sources said today, with conflict in the chip industry likely to follow. Code-named Joshua, the low-cost processor will run at speeds that will provide the performance of chips running at 433, 466 and 500 MHz, Via executives have said. More importantly, it will fit into the same circuit boards as Intel's Celeron processor, making the chip the first Celeron clone. Wen Chi Chen, president and CEO, and Steve McMahan, director of engineering, will preside over the event in San Jose, Calif.	See Today's Related Stories
Via downplays ITC probe By Mark Carroll and George Leopold February 10, 2000 EE Times	Taiwan's stock market reacted badly to news of the U.S. International Trade Commission's unfair trade practices investigation of Via Technologies Inc., and Via executives and securities analysts tried to play down the investigation. The ITC voted Tuesday (Feb. 8) to launch an investigation in response to a January complaint filed by Intel Corp. (Santa Clara, Calif.). Intel also has several patent-infringement cases against Via pending in federal court involving its P6 bus technology.	See Also ITC to investigate Intel's patent claims against Via, others
Transmeta's Crusoe Processor -- an in-depth look February 8, 2000 Tech-Review.com	For months now, everyone has been waiting to see exactly what the new chip company, Transmeta, was up to. Word spread like wild fire that Transmeta was developing a new, super secret CPU that would take a whole new look on the way a computer processes information. I first heard about Transmeta while reading an article on Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux OS, in which he stated that he was currently employed by Transmeta. From then on, I kept hearing about the company here and there, with a little buzz that they would debut their new chip at Comdex '99 in Las Vegas. So, Comdex came and went, but still no Transmeta.
The Great Processor Strike of 2000 February 8, 2000 ZD Net UK	One of AnchorDesk's other regular columnists brought up an excellent point that has been bothering me for a while now. It was our technomeister, Rupert Goodwins. In picking up on a news item about faster processors, he pointed out that Intel's suggestion that the 1GHz Willamette chip was essential because we are facing a broadband future was a bit specious. As Rupert explains, the issue is not primarily a processing one even for the lucky few with a broadband connection. Indeed, he has been testing BT's ADSL with a humble 200MHz Pentium and not encountered a problem to date. And now I read that a 10GHz chip is in the cards for 2011. What's that for? A very broadband indeed connection?
Inside the GHz processors By Chris Edwards February 10, 2000 EE Times	Processor designers at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) this week described their use of low-threshold-voltage circuits, innovative clocking, and other design techniques to push speeds to the gigahertz realm. Designers employed techniques such as interconnect-driven design to bring cycle times below the critical 1-ns point. To keep the amount of logic in each pipeline stage at manageable levels, the trend has been to keep existing microarchitectures intact, and in some cases making them simpler to implement.
The Register Files
Willamette it or won't it? By Peter Sherriff February 10, 2000 The Register	Intel's new wonder chip, codenamed Willamette, is, according to official leaks from Chipzilla central, due for launch in October. Slightly less official, but usually reliable, sources close to the chip behemoth tell us that Willamette is due to start sampling in July. This would be about right for a sampling date for an October launch, but we also learn that the whole thing hangs on how quickly Intel can ramp its 0.18 micron process, used for both the existing Coppermine Pentium III range and its successor -- and that seems to be coming together rather better now.
Today's Related Stories
Via set to debut low-cost 'Joshua' processor By Ken Popovich February 10, 2000 PC Week Online	Get ready for a new chip on the block. Via Technologies will introduce a new low-priced processor, known by the code name Joshua, at a Feb. 22 news conference in San Jose, Calif. Although Via has yet to formally release pricing and clock speeds for the chip, sources said Joshua initially will be introduced at 433MHz and 466MHz, with 500MHz and 566MHz versions scheduled for release in the second half of this year.
February 10, 2000
ITC to investigate Intel's patent claims against Via, others By Jack Robertson February 9, 2000 Electronic Buyers' News	The International Trade Commission Tuesday voted to launch an investigation into claims by Intel Corp. that its patents have been infringed by two Taipei, Taiwan-based electronics companies -- Via Technologies Inc. and First International Computer Inc. Everex Systems, of Fremont, Calif., also is included in the ITC probe. The ITC will seek to determine whether the companies named in the complaint are violating Intel's patent rights by using core-logic chipsets based on Intel's technology.
ITC to investigate Taiwan chip set makers By George Leopold February 9, 2000 EE Times	The U.S. International Trade Commission voted Tuesday (Feb. 8) to launch an unfair trade practices investigation against Taiwanese chip set makers, including Via Technologies Inc. The probe responds to a petition filed last month by Intel Corp. Along with Via (Taipei, Taiwan), companies named in the investigation were Via's U.S. subsidiary in Fremont, Calif., First International Computer of America Inc. (Fremont) and Everex Systems Inc. (Fremont), and First International Computer Inc. (Taipei).
Processors gallop past the GHz mark By Will Wade February 9, 2000 EE Times	The four heavy hitters in processor design surged past the GHz barrier with architectural modifications shown at ISSCC here, but the breakthroughs are more symbolic than significant for end-applications performance, observers said. Intel Corp., IBM Corp., Compaq Computer Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. all showed designs or demonstrated devices that crack the magic GHz barrier; some of them are expected to be turned into commercial products this year.
Itanium to roll at 800 MHz By Will Wade February 9, 2000 EE Times	Intel Corp. plans to introduce its long-awaited 64-bit Itanium microprocessor later this year at an initial speed grade of 800 MHz. The company revealed numerous technical details of the device this week at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference 2000. "This is the most significant product introduction from Intel since the 386 chips," said Gadi Singer, vice president and general manager of the company's IA-64 division and a key architect on the project. He said the company has delivered thousands of engineering prototypes of Itanium to more than 30 computer OEMs, as well as to numerous other vendors in the chip set, operating system, application software and other segments.
The Register Files
Intel could revisit Socket Seven By Mike Magee February 9, 2000 The Register	Sources at a Taiwanese motherboard manufacturer said today that Intel engineers are working on a subset of the Socket Seven market. If true, and Intel could not be contacted at press time, for a confirm or deny, this means that the company has completely reversed out of its Slot One strategy only to drive back into its old Socket Seven strategy. This may well be a question of competitive market forces.
February 8, 2000
AMD demos 1.1-GHz Athlon MPU made with copper in Dresden February 7, 2000 Semiconductor Business News	Advanced Micro Devices Inc. today showed off a 1.1-GHz version of its Athlon processor, which was fabricated with copper interconnects and a 0.18-micron process at AMD's Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany. The new version of the Athlon integrates level 2 cache memory on chip. The Sunnyvale-based chip maker said it expects to see revenues from the new copper processor by the end of second quarter this year.
Intel details make-able Aluminum-based 1GHz "Coppermine" processor February 7, 2000 Electronic News Online	Intel today detailed a "manufacture-able" 1 Gigahertz (GHz) "Coppermine" Pentium III microprocessor implemented on 0.18-micron process technology using existing aluminum interconnects at the International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco. Peter Green, design manager for the microprocessor giant's Logic technology development, delivered the technical paper, which described how physical design enhancements, architecture enhancements and advanced transistor technology would lead to a low-risk, high-volume manufacturing ramp using aluminum.
Intel: Upcoming Itanium chip will hit 800 MHz By Michael Kanellos February 7, 2000 C/Net	Intel confirmed today that its next-generation, high-end processor will come out at 800 MHz when it debuts later this year. The processor, which has experienced some delays, is the 64-bit Itanium chip. It's Intel's first foray into a high-end market largely defined by such companies as Sun Microsystems and IBM. Intel is currently shipping prototype Itanium chips to computer makers for testing, analysts have said.
Taking chips to 10GHz ... and beyond By John G. Spooner February 7, 2000 ZDNet News	Imagine if your home PC had as much giga-happy grunt as a mainframe. A desktop that's 100 times more powerful than a 1,000MHz PC, operates as your personal server, networks all your electronic appliances and responds to your voice commands. Sound like Star Trek? Maybe, but to high-tech's leading microprocessor gurus it sounds more like 2011.
The Register Files
Race to 1GHz bad for end users By Mike Magee February 7, 2000 The Register	The race between AMD, Intel -- and now IBM -- to be first to market with a 1GHz microprocessor is having a bad effect on corporate users of PCs because of too fast roll-outs and changes of platform, it has emerged. Intel is expected to demonstrate a 1GHz CPU running without benefit of cooling at next week's Developer Forum, while AMD, according to sources close to the firm, has already succeeded in clocking its Athlon K7 to that speed. Meanwhile, Compaq is promising to clock its Alpha processor to 1GHz, possibly around the middle of the year, while IBM's latest claims have further upped the ante in the race.
Philippines can't afford Intel inside By Mike Magee February 7, 2000 The Register	A report in the Philippine Star said that Intel plans to build a fab on the archipelago will come to nothing because the government cannot afford to build additional infrastructure. According to the report, which can be found on the Web here, the Philippine government's plans to attract Intel by providing tax incentives will not be enough, because the cost of building the necessary waste management facilities will be prohibitive.
Rapid demise of Slot One causes more problems By Mike Magee February 7, 2000 The Register	Intel has advised system builders to make use of socket to slot convertors in order to avoid problems caused by its rapid movement from Slot One microprocessors to flip chip (FC-PGA) packaging. But OEMs are cavilling against the Intel recommendation, as being unsuitable for any products apart from the Celeron platform.
February 7, 2000
Michael Dell: AMD environment "too fragile" By Richard Barry February 4, 2000 ZD Net UK	In the past Dell has said AMD's inability to deliver the goods was the problem, but incompatibility is the main concern, ZDNet Editor, Richard Barry, reports. Dell, the world's leading PC manufacturer, finally ended the debate regarding its choice of microprocessors Thursday when CEO, Michael Dell, outlined his concerns over AMD's microprocessors. In an interview held in London, Dell told ZDNet UK News that although AMD was making good progress with its processor range, the technology it offered "was too fragile" for Dell customers. Asked if by 'too fragile' he meant there were incompatibility issues with AMD architecture Dell said, "Yes, and that's vital."
Consumers win mobile chip race By John G. Spooner February 4, 2000 ZD Net UK	It's now a three-horse race between Intel, AMD and newcomer Transmeta. And that's good news for notebook buyers The notebook PC processor market -- traditionally a one-horse race dominated by Intel -- is heating up. And speeding up. The mobile-chip market has been turned into a three-horse race by the renewed efforts of Advanced Micro Devices and the entry of a new challenger, Transmeta.
Intel prepping new mobile chip By John Spooner February 4, 2000 ZDNet News	The mobile Pentium III's days are numbered. Intel Corp. sources say the chip maker is working to replace its top-of-the-line notebook processor, the mobile Pentium III, with a new chip, code-named Northwood, in 2001. Northwood, based on the same next-generation 32-bit architecture as Intel's forthcoming Willamette desktop chip, will mark the beginning of Intel's transition to a 0.13-micron process. Changing process technologies allows a chip maker to increase performance while reducing both cost and power consumption.
Intel forum to map three-front battle for processor platforms By David Lammers February 4, 2000 EE Times	Intel Corp. executives will create a product triangle of sorts when the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) opens Feb. 15 in Palm Springs, Calif. Some 3,000 participants are expected to hear them describe the "Timna" processor with integrated graphics, the next-generation 32-bit "Willamette" microarchitecture and the "Itanium" 64-bit processor. The company expects that trio of products to be introduced to the market this year and to position Intel in the value, performance and high-end-server portions of the computer marketplace.
The Register Files
Willamette is Intel's favourite petzilla By Mike Magee February 6, 2000 The Register	"A year is as a day in the mind of Chipzilla" -- Book of Remembrances It is nearly a year since Dr Albert Yu, a senior VP at the Intel Corporation, showed an assembly of hacks a machine running a chip at 1GHz at its bi-annual Developer Forum. What a difference a year makes. When we attend the Intel Developer Forum next week, we are confident that we will see a machine being demoed that runs at 1GHz, but this time Chipzilla may open its kimono, and dispel any doubts that liquid nitrogen is making it clock.