Intel Unveils New Pentium II Xeon Processors with Enhanced Performance and Features

Strategic Insights -

Intel Corporation's latest addition to its Pentium II Xeon processor family, unveiled Tuesday, brings three new 450-MHz versions that incorporate 512 KB, 1 MB, and 2 MB of Level 2 (L2) cache. These new processors support servers and workstations using four or more processors, offering exceptional performance and features for business-critical server applications such as e-commerce, enterprise resource planning, and decision support services.

The new Pentium II Xeon processor-based systems have demonstrated the highest four-way performance in the industry, as well as the highest single-system transaction performance via a 64-way processor-based system. Systems based on these new processors with 2 MB of L2 cache have shown a 10 percent greater performance than systems using a 400-MHz Pentium II Xeon processor with 1 MB of L2 cache. Additionally, these systems have exhibited a 10 percent price/performance improvement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new Pentium II Xeon processor 450-MHz versions incorporate 512 KB, 1 MB, and 2 MB of Level 2 (L2) cache, supporting servers and workstations using four or more processors.
  • These new processors offer industry-leading performance for four-way and greater systems, with systems based on the 2 MB L2 cache demonstrating a 10 percent greater performance than those using a 400-MHz Pentium II Xeon processor with 1 MB of L2 cache.
  • The 450-MHz Pentium II Xeon processor-based systems have shown a 10 percent price/performance improvement.
  • The new processors are compatible with earlier versions of the processor and are supported by the same systems, minimizing hardware system vendor and IT qualification time.
  • Operating system solutions by Unixware, Linux, Solaris, Netware, and Windows NT as well as hardware system vendors such as Compaq, Data General, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Micron, Mitsubishi, NCR, NEC, Olivetti, Packard Bell NEC, Samsung, Sequent, Siemens ICP, Toshiba, and Unisys plan to announce the availability of four-way server systems based on the Pentium II Xeon processors 450 MHz this month.
  • In 1,000-unit quantities, the Pentium II Xeon processor 450 MHz with 512 KB L2 cache costs $824, with 1 MB L2 cache costs $1,980, and with 2 MB L2 cache costs $3,692.

Statistics:

  • The 450-MHz Pentium II Xeon processors have demonstrated a 10 percent greater performance than systems using a 400-MHz Pentium II Xeon processor with 1 MB of L2 cache.
  • Systems based on the 2 MB L2 cache have shown a 10 percent price/performance improvement.
  • The new processors offer industry-leading performance for four-way and greater systems.
  • In 1,000-unit quantities, the Pentium II Xeon processor 450 MHz with 512 KB L2 cache costs $824, with 1 MB L2 cache costs $1,980, and with 2 MB L2 cache costs $3,692.

Sources:

  • Intel Corporation
  • Oracle Corporation
  • SAP America, Inc.
  • Compaq
  • Data General
  • Dell
  • Fujitsu
  • Gateway
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • Hitachi
  • IBM
  • Micron
  • Mitsubishi
  • NCR
  • NEC
  • Olivetti
  • Packard Bell NEC
  • Samsung
  • Sequent
  • Siemens ICP
  • Toshiba
  • Unisys
  • Unixware
  • Linux
  • Solaris
  • Netware
  • Windows NT