Roadmap Intel

Also making an appearance in May, the 1.13 GHz Pentium III will be (re)introduced at $268. This release will also be available only in FC-PGA packaging, as no SECC2 version is planned. This is likely to be a very short-lived processor given that Intel has decided to drop prices on 1 GHz Pentium IIIs to the same price, $268, in January. In fact, it was originally planned for the 1 GHz part to be priced at $348, as has been reflected in our earlier reports, but the company will price it $80 less to ensure the older Pentium III line remains attractive to budget buyers.

This is not, however, the only reason why a 1.13 GHz Pentium III in May is sure to be short-lived. Beginning in Q3, the 0.13-micron Tualatin-256 will arrive at 1.26 GHz. While earlier plans called for a more ambitious design, featuring a 512 KB L2 cache and a 200 MHz FSB, these plans were scrapped in light of the accelerated Pentium 4 ramp. While the mobile version is beefier, the desktop-oriented Tualatin-256 is essentially just a shrink of the Coppermine Pentium III to Intel's 0.13-micron Copper process. PC133 SDRAM will be the end of the road for Tualatin-256, as there will be no DDR platform. Furthermore, there are no speed grades beyond 1.26 GHz currently shown on the roadmap.