SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Amid the launch of the Pentium 4 microprocessor on Monday, Intel Corp. here today insisted that its next-generation, 64-bit chip for servers is still on schedule despite reports that the product has been delayed.
Reports surfaced that servers based on Intel's code-named McKinley processor will not be shown until the first half of 2002. Intel originally promised that "pilot systems" based on the McKinley chip would roll out in late-2001.
But there is no change for the introduction of McKinley, according to a spokesman for Intel. "We've never given a specific launch date for McKinley," the spokesman said. "But we expect the roll out for the product to be in late '01."
McKinley will succeed Intel's current 64-bit server processor, dubbed Itanium, which was demonstrated in "pilot systems" last month. Co-developed by Intel and Hewlett-Packard Co., Itanium is a 733-MHz chip designed for use in servers and workstations. It is designed to compete against the likes of 64-bit CISC and RSIC chips from Advanced Micro Devices, Sun Microsystems, and others.
Intel has not officially announced the chip, but the company has been making the device available for OEMs and developers for some time, the spokesman said. "We've been building Itanium chips for some time," he added. "We showed 'pilot systems' last month."
The spokesman added that the company is also on track to announce the Pentium 4 on Monday, although some retail outlets claim they could receive the initial systems based on the chip as early as tomorrow.
Many of the specifications of the Pentium 4 have been revealed. While the 1-GHz-plus chip looks promising, it could take a bite out of the company's margins (see Nov. 13 story).
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