Intel launches 3GHz Pentium 4

Intel has announced its 3.06GHz Pentium 4 processor, and systems with the chip should be available shortly. Not only is the new chip a step up in speed from the previous top speed of 2.8GHz, but it also introduces a new feature called Hyper Threading, which, depending on the application, may or may not make for an additional performance increase.

Hyper Threading is an Intel technology that allows a single processor core to operate on two program threads simultaneously. An operating system like Windows XP will work with the chip as virtually two separate processors, sending data to each as it would in a dual-processor system. As a result, Intel has seen performance gains of up to 30 percent using properly optimized software designed for 3D rendering.

Current applications, however, show a much more subtle increase with Hyper Threading, if any at all. And game developers aren't likely to put the work into optimizing games for Hyper Threading. Most programs would have to be reworked to properly divide their tasks so two processors can speed up individual application performance. In fact, some tests show that Hyper Threading can actually slow applications down if the two processor cores have to fight over shared resources.

The real promise of Hyper Threading comes when multiple applications are being run at once, and Intel claims that Hyper Threading generally makes systems much more responsive in switching between busy applications. This may be very useful for general computing, but it will only have an effect on gaming if you're running something in the background while playing a game. Hyper Threading could make such a scenario practical by minimizing the slowdown in the game.

The 3.06GHz Pentium 4 centers on the same "Northwood" core as its 2.8GHz predecessor. That is to say, the core is manufactured using a .13-micron process, and the chip includes 512KB of level-two cache memory. Even without Hyper Threading, the 3.06GHz Pentium 4 fares well in current games, compared with AMD's Athlon XP 2800+, which won't be widely available until January of 2003.

Intel cites four factors to take into consideration before buying a Hyper Threading-enabled processor. To begin, the processor must support the technology. Additionally, the chipset needs to recognize the Hyper Threading processor. Intel has already identified its i850E, i845PE, and i845GE chipsets as compatible, and initial tests show that VIA's P4X400 also works with Hyper Threading. Motherboards equipped with one of the aforementioned chipsets also require proper BIOS support, which is implemented by third-party board manufacturers. Finally, Intel recommends either Windows XP Home or Professional Edition for proper Hyper Threading functionality. Oddly, Windows 2000 is not recommended.

Intel's Pentium 4 3.06GHz processor will be available shortly after launch. Motherboards supporting Hyper Threading technology are already available, though some boards may require a BIOS update to turn the feature on.

Priced at $637 in wholesale quantities, Intel's flagship chip ratchets up the price as well as the speed, and it commands a premium price compared with AMD's Athlon XP. However, the 3.06GHz processor does offer a significant performance advantage. Even though AMD has already announced its Athlon XP 2800+, that chip isn't expected to be available until next year, meaning the fastest Intel processors are likely to remain much faster than what's available from the competition at least through the holiday season.