Intel's Pentium M designed for greatness

CHIP FIRM Intel has firmed up details of its future Centrino offerings, including future Pentium M processors, wireless kits and chipsets.

While we believe the Pentium M is being prepped by Intel for greatness as a desktop chip in the future, we'll confine ourselves here to what's imminent.

The firm, according to recent roadmaps seen by the INQUIRER, has now named its Alviso chipsets the Intel 915GM, the 915PM and the 910GML chipsets, while it's so called next gen wireless kit which supports 802.11a, b, and g is now called PRO/Wireless 2915ABG.

It will introduce Dothan based Pentium Ms, which use the smaller 90 nanometre die size in Q2 at 1.70 and 1.70GHz, while it will also introduce a 1.60GHz chip in the third quarter.

An ultra low voltage 1.10GHz 130 nanometre Pentium M, and a low voltage 1.30GHz Pentium M will come in Q2 as well.

In Q3, Intel will introduce 1.40GHz and ultra low voltage 1.10AGHz Pentium Ms using the 90 nanometre process.

While its hyperthreaded Prescott mobile Pentium 4s, initially at 3.46GHz, will now launch in Q3, and another at 3.60GHz in Q4, Intel will introduce Prescott 2.80GHz Pentium 4s in Q2. It will offer a Prescott Celeron at 3.33GHz in Q4 - a similar plot exists for desktop Celerons.

It appears that the Pro/Wireless 2915ABG will not be ready until much later this year.

As far as Pentium M chips themselves are concerned, Intel is forecasting the 2GHz Dothan to be released in Q3, with a 2.13GHz model in Q4 and a 2.13GHz model in the first quarter of 2005. µ