PC makers rolling out 800MHz PIIIs
Published: 21 Dec 1999 09:42 GMT
PC makers Monday announced a number of new consumer-oriented systems that offer Intel's newest 750MHz and 800MHz Pentium III chips.
The new desktop offerings include models from Dell, Gateway and Hewlett-Packard.
When the 800MHz chip is paired with Intel's 820 chip set and Rambus memory, users should expect to pay between $2,500 (£1,500) and $3,000 for their PC with a monitor.
Dell, for example, launched two new models in its Dimension desktop line. The company's new Dimension XPS B800r, with the 800MHz Pentium III, Intel's 820 chip set and 128MB of Rambus Direct RAM will cost $2,911. That price also includes a 27GB hard drive and a 17-inch monitor. The 800MHz Pentium III chip is available with either a 100MHz bus for the 440BX chip set or a 133MHz bus for the 820 chip set.
This chipset and memory combination is the highest performing configuration available for 800MHz Pentium III-based PCs, due to the 820 chip set's 133MHz system bus.
Dell's Dimension XPS T750r model offers the 750MHz Pentium III with the new chip. When matched with 128MB of synchronous dynamic RAM, a 27GB hard drive and a 17-inch monitor, the PC will sell for $2,119, according to Dell. This model is based on Intel's 440BX chip set, with its 100MHz system bus. The 750MHz Pentium III supports only a 100MHz system bus.
Hewlett-Packard announced Monday that it will offer the 800MHz Pentium III in a Pavilion 8500 series PC. With the 800MHz chip, 128MB of SDRAM, a 13GB hard drive and a 40X CD-ROM drive and no monitor, it is expected to sell for $1,995.
Gateway will offer the 800MHz Pentium III in a new Performance 800XL desktop. The system, with its 800MHz chip, 128MB of SDRAM, 27GB hard drive, DVD-ROM drive, CD-Rewriteable drive and 19-inch monitor comes in at a hefty $3,799.
The new 800MHz PCs from Gateway and HP are somewhat different from Dell's 800MHz Dimension. Instead of 820 and Rambus, they offer Intel's 440BX with a 100MHz system bus and 100MHz synchronous dynamic RAM. The system bus is a pipeline that is used to pass data between the processor and the rest of the system, including components such as memory. A 133MHz system bus is generally regarded at faster, because it can handle more data per a given period of time.
Representatives from Compaq and IBM said their companies would announce support for the new Intel desktop chips in the near future.
For those who are interested in purchasing a PC with AMD's 800MHz Athlon processor, sources say that the company will announce that chip in January. The announcement may come as soon as the Consumer Electronics Show in early January. Compaq and IBM are expected to offer PCs supporting the new Athlon. Other Athlon supporters include CyberMax Computer.
The new Athlon, as other Athlon chips do, will support a 200MHz system bus.
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