Intel preparing new processors for Socket 478 and Socket 775

Apparently, Intel’s slightly outdated Socket 478 infrastructure will see a number of fresh high-end processors, something that Intel did not want to introduce initially, such as, Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.60GHz, Intel Pentium 4 “Prescott” 3.60GHz and even Intel Pentium 4 “Prescott” 3.80GHz processors. Furthermore, the company will also introduce Celeron D in mPGA478 packaging at up to 3.46GHz speeds in addition to a yet another entry-level Pentium 4 chip with 2.26GHz clock-speed, 533MHz processor system bus and 512KB of cache.

New SKUs for older platforms are likely to prolong the lifespan of Socket 478 mainboards and chipsets, such as i875P and i865PE or core-logic products from third-party makers like VIA or SiS, that support such processors.

In a rather surprising manner Intel also seems to move a number of 130nm chips into its new Socket T infrastructure: the firm plans to release Pentium 4 2.80C, Pentium 4 3.00C and Pentium 4 3.20C processors with 800MHz processor system bus and 512KB of L2 cache. For higher-end market segment the company will offer Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processors at 3.20GHz and 3.46GHz with 1066MHz Quad Pumped Bus and 2MB of L2 cache along with “officially planned” Pentium 4 3.80GHz with 800MHz bus and 1MB of cache.

It is not clear whether the “unexpected” central processing units will be supplied into retail market, or will be available in limited quantities to selected computer makers. Intel is known for releasing certain products tailored for requirements of a particular client; for instance, recently the firm released its Pentium M 705 chip that has the same characteristics as the Pentium M 1.50GHz, but features "slightly different micro-architecture" and is available only from a number notebook makers