Intel targets gamers with Extreme Edition P4 offering

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 2 Nov 2004 at 12:41

Intel has made a grab for the gaming computer crown with the release of a new Pentium 4 Extreme Edition (P4 EE) processor and the 925XE Express chipset, which enables higher system bus speeds. Together, Intel describes them as the foundation of a new 'enthusiast platform'.

As anticipated, the new P4 EE clocks 3.46 GHz and comes with 2MB of Level 3 cache and HT Technology.

As for the new chipset, it is an extension of the 915/925X Express chipset family launched earlier this year. Supporting a system bus that operates at a frequency of 1066 MHz (compared with the 800MHz Front Side Bus speed of predecessors) it is designed to help speed communications between the CPU and system memory, a potential bottleneck. It is this, claims Intel, that will bring extra horsepower to the intensive processing required for the latest games - it should also enable faster frame rates for both gaming and video editing.

As with the 915/925X Express chipsets, the 925XE Express carries Intel High Definition Audio, DDR2 memory, and PCI Express capabilities.

'PC enthusiasts are enjoying more rich media and gaming content than ever as the PC becomes central to the digital home,' said Bill Siu, Intel's general manager of the Desktop Platforms Group. 'The new 925XE Express chipset, combined with the Intel Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition, is another example of the platform approach we're moving toward - bringing chipsets, processors and other components together to provide specific benefits to PC buyers.'

The boxed Intel Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition 3.46 GHz is priced at $999 (the same as its 3.4GHz predecessor), based on 1,000 unit quantities.

To complete the announcements, Intel has also made available associated D925XECV2 and D925XEBC2 ATX and micro-ATX motherboards. More technical info on these desktop boards can be found at http://developer.intel.com/design/motherbd.

Back in October - AMD rolls out its flagship chips for the Christmas market - AMD released its own 'ultimate processor' aimed at hard-core gamers, the Athlon 64 FX-55. This 64-bit chip is priced at $827.