Intel Introduces First Pentium® II Processors for Mobile PCs

New Pentium® II Processors Provide Mobile PC Users with Next Generation Computing Capabilities

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 2, 1998 – Intel Corporation today introduced the first Pentium® II processor for mobile PCs. The mobile Pentium II processor, offered at speeds of 233 and 266 MHz, brings a new level of performance and computing capabilities not previously available to mobile PC users. Pentium II processor-based mobile PCs deliver the performance required to run today's most advanced applications and provide the headroom to meet the performance demands of future versions of operating systems.

The mobile Pentium II processor delivers the advanced performance capabilities of the P6 microarchitecture while meeting the unique power consumption and size requirements of mobile PCs. The mobile Pentium II processor is available in an innovative "mini-cartridge" package, which contains the processor core and closely coupled 512K Level 2 cache. The mini-cartridge is about one-fourth the weight, one-sixth the size and consumes two-thirds of the power of the Pentium II processor desktop Single Edge Connector (SEC) cartridge, making it well-suited for today's broad range of mobile PC form factors, including thin, lightweight, ultraportable systems.

"Intel develops products and technologies to deliver new capabilities and enhance the utility of mobile PCs," said Stephen P. Nachtsheim, corporate vice president and general manager, Intel Mobile and Handheld Products Group. "As a result, mobile PC users now have access to Intel's most advanced processor generation, the Pentium II processor, in a wide range of system designs, configurations and prices. New Pentium II processor-based mobile PCs meet the demanding performance needs of the mobile environment required by local database manipulation, decompressing rich Internet content over standard telephone lines and delivering quick response using business-suite applications." Mobile Pentium II processor-based PCs will be available in a wide array of shapes, sizes and weights including thin systems weighing less than five pounds.

Additionally, systems equipped with the mobile Pentium II processor will feature improved displays, large-capacity hard disk drives, high-speed CD-ROM drives and DVD drives.

Pentium II Processor-Based Mobile PCs in Business and at Home
Pentium II processor-based mobile PCs offer businesses and consumers the performance necessary to support desktop functionality and portability while in the office, on the road or working at home.

The mobile Pentium II processor offers small businesses a big company "edge" with the ability to maintain productivity and customer service while on the go. These users can stay in touch with employees, customers and suppliers more quickly and easily, create professional-looking multimedia sales presentations and conduct real-time customer collaboration from the office, on the road or from home. For consumers, a Pentium II processor-based mobile PC offers desktop equivalence to run office suites, access the Internet and use media-rich educational and entertainment software. Additionally, a mobile PC equipped with a Pentium II processor provides college students with the performance needed to conduct research via the Internet, create compelling multimedia presentations and write term papers anywhere on campus.

Many new Pentium II processor-based mobile PCs will incorporate manageability features based on Intel's Wired for Management (WFM) baseline specification. These features help improve the overall cost of ownership for businesses and corporate information technology departments who deploy notebook PCs. Pentium II processor-based mobile PCs based on the WFM specification provide the ability to perform automatic system inventory tracking and maintenance, software distribution, and constant system health monitoring, which will help make mobile PCs as easy to manage as desktop systems.

Product Features, Pricing and Availability
The 233- and 266-MHz Pentium II processors for mobile PCs are manufactured on Intel's 0.25 micron process technology and offer the same performance-enhancing features as the existing Pentium II processors for the desktop segment, including: Dual Independent Bus architecture, Dynamic Execution, Intel MMX™ technology and a closely coupled 512KB Level 2 cache. The mobile Pentium II processor system bus operates at 66 MHz. Additionally, to address the unique thermal requirements of mobile PCs, the new mobile Pentium II processor contains built-in power management features that help to manage power consumption and improve reliability. Based on the industry standard benchmark Winbench98*, the new 266-MHz mobile Pentium II processor posts a 32-35 percent integer performance improvement over an equivalent clockspeed Pentium processor with MMX technology. The 266-MHz mobile Pentium II processor also posts a 20-24 percent improvement using Norton Multimedia*, a 10-14 percent improvement on Winstone98* and a 32-33 percent improvement on Winbench98 FPU**.

The mobile Pentium II processors, which operate at an internal core voltage of 1.7 volts, are Intel's lowest voltage mobile processors introduced to date. The 233-MHz mobile Pentium II processor core generates 6.8 watts TDP (thermal design power) typical and the 266-MHz version consumes 7.8 watts TDP typical. With the addition of the second level cache, the 233-MHz mobile Pentium II processor operates at 7.5 watts, while the 266-MHz version operates at 8.6 watts.

Pentium II processor-based mobile PCs are available beginning today at affordable system prices of $2,995 and below from some manufacturers. In 1,000 unit quantities, the 233- and 266-MHz mobile Pentium II processor mini-cartridge is available to manufacturers for $466 and $696, respectively. In 1,000 unit quantities, the 233- and 266-MHz Pentium II processor mobile module which includes the "north bridge" portion of the Mobile 440BX chip set, is available for $542 and $772, respectively. An Intel mobile module that supports Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) signals will be available later this quarter.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

** Results obtained by comparing the Pentium® II processor (233 and 266 MHz) data against the Pentium processor with MMX™ technology (233 and 266 MHz). Configurations: Gateway* 2000 Solo 9100 with Pentium processor with MMX technology, 233- and 266 MHz module platforms, 32 MB RAM, 512K cache. Gateway* 2000 Mobile Pentium II processor 233- and 266-MHz module platforms with Intel 440BX/PCIset, 32 MB RAM, 512K cache. See Intel Mobile Pentium II processor Product Brief - March 1998 for more detail.