Intel today will unveil its first notebook processors containing an eagerly awaited energy-saving technology, according to people familiar with the company's plans. The new design will likely be compatible with PC architectures and emulate the behavior of Intel chips, according to industry sources and experts who have reviewed company patents. However, it will be smaller and less costly, these individuals said. Both could improve key elements of portable computing, including overall performance, battery performance and price.
Many users are chronically dissatisfied with their notebooks in comparison to their desktop systems.
The first SpeedStep Pentium IIIs, for instance, will run at 600 MHz or more when the notebook is plugged in and at 500 MHz when unplugged. The change is important, because it will allow notebook makers to incorporate faster chips without compromising battery life, Intel executives and analysts have said. Currently, Intel's fastest notebook chip runs at 500 MHz while its fastest desktop chip runs at 800 MHz. Battery technology is not scaling like silicon technology. Faster, higher-performance notebooks have been a goal for both Intel and PC manufacturers, as portables generally carry higher profit margins.