Intel demonstrates Xeon 64-bit processor in Taiwan

Taipei, July 2, 2004 (CENS)--Intel Corp. of the U.S. recently demonstrated its new-generation 64-bit Xeon processor in Taiwan and immediately won adoption by several local motherboard makers.

Stanley Huang, director of marketing and business operations of Intel Asia Pacific, said that the 32-bit processors will remain the mainstream product this year and more 64-bit models are expected to emerge next year.

Intel's new Xeon processor, designed for dual-processor server and workstation platforms, is now available at 3.60 GHz. The new processor owns 30%-higher efficiency than its predecessor platform and supports double data rate (DDR) II, PCI Express, and 800 MHz system bus specifications.

Intel said that it would continue to demonstrate the new-generation server platform with different chipsets within the coming two months.

Several major motherboard makers in Taiwan have adopted the Xeon processor on their products for dual-processor server and workstation platforms, and will soon launch such products in the market. Among them are Asustek Computer Inc., Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co. Ltd., Tyan Computer Corp., Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd., Iwill Corp. and Micro-Star International Co. Some big foreign brands will push Xeon-equipped products, including Dell, Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP), NEC, IBM, Fujitsu and Egenera.

According to Huang, the 64-bit Xeon processor is compatible with the 32-bit system and there is still no 64-bit operation system (OS) software available. So, Huang said, the real 64-bit era would come after the demonstration of 64-bit OS products. The director predicted that the demand for 64-bit processors is expected to grow late this year.

Huang said that the Xeon is made with 90 nano-meter production technology and the new model provides faster multimedia and security computing efficiency as well as supports intensive-computing graphic and executing functions.