Intel unveils 4GHz processor

Intel demonstrated a Pentium 4-based chip running at 4GHz, giving a sneak peak at its future line of desktop processors.

The chip is currently nearly twice as fast as processors in the current line-up that run at 2.2GHz.

The demo chip needed some unusual cooling methods to work, unlike the normal air-cooled 3GHz Pentium previewed earlier in the week by Intel's chief executive, Craig Barrett.

"This is the first 4GHz silicon from our manufacturing line," said Louis Burns, vice president and co-general manager of Intel's Desktop Platforms Group.

While the new chip is not expected to ship for some time, Burns said in his keynote speech that the product proves the current architecture can scale.

He also revealed the work on processors based on 0.09-micron technology. Codenamed Prescott, the processor will be released in 2003.

The platform for the new chip will include a number of new connection technologies, such as USB 2.0 and Serial ATA, a faster technology which should replace the parallel cables used to connect hard drives and CD-Roms to the motherboard.

Also included in the reference design should be integrated wireless and Gigabit Ethernet.

Prescott's release is expected to be near the time that Intel is planning to launch products based around a component connection standard called 3GIO.

3GIO speeds up how the processor communicates with graphics processors, network cards, printers and other peripherals, so increasing performance.