Intel to launch three Dothan CPUs on the 4th of February 2004

Taiwanese notebook makers have confirmed that Intel will introduce three new models of its next-gen Pentium M CPU (codenamed Dothan) on the 4th of February 2004. Intel will start the production of these 90nm processors at 1.6GHz and will also immediately launch a 1.7GHz and 1.8GHz model.

Originally Intel had not planned a 1.6GHz but they have added this relatively low-priced model to boost the overall Centrino sales.

Intel is striving to have over 70% of its Pentium 4 processors for desktops available on the 90nm process in the second quarter of 2004, local notebook makers quoted sources at Intel Taiwan as saying.

The current yield rate of 12-inch wafers manufactured on the 90nm process is comparable, if not higher, than that of the eight-inch wafers using a 0.13-micron process, according to sources at Intel Taiwan.

Intel will also debut its Pentium M 1GHz ULV processor at a price of around US$262 per unit in the first quarter of next year. The new 1GHz ULV model is to counter Transmeta’s recently released 1.1Ghz Efficeon processors, said the sources.

Intel’s Pentium M processor prices
Model	Banias processros on 0.13-micron process (available since Oct 5)	Dothan processors on 90-nm (available on Feb 4)
1.8GHz	/	637
1.7GHz	423	455
1.6GHz	294	326

Source: DigiTimes