Intel Introduces Pentium(R) II OverDrive(R) Processor For Pentium Pro Processor-Based Systems

Original Document

Intel Introduces Pentium® II OverDrive® Processor For Pentium Pro Processor-Based Systems

Pentium II OverDrive Processor Brings New Level of Performance and Intel’s MMX™ Technology to Upgradable Pentium Pro Processor-based Systems

FOLSOM, Calif., Aug. 10, 1998 – Delivering on its commitment to offer Pentium® Pro processor-based system owners an upgrade path to MMX™ technology, Intel Corporation today introduced the Pentium II OverDrive® processor for Pentium Pro processor-based systems. The Pentium II OverDrive processor brings a new level of performance and Intel’s MMX technology to owners of upgradable Pentium Pro processor-based business desktop PCs, workstations, and entry- and mid-range network servers.

Intel marks the completion of the OverDrive processor family of upgrade products with the introduction of the new Pentium II OverDrive processor. The Pentium II OverDrive processor upgrades existing upgradable 150- and 180-MHz Pentium Pro processor-based systems to 300 MHz, and upgrades existing 166- and 200-MHz Pentium Pro processor-based systems to 333 MHz. The Pentium II OverDrive processor’s higher clock speeds, coupled with larger full-speed caches and Intel’s MMX technology deliver improved performance for data-intensive applications such as databases, computer-aided design, desktop publishing, imaging, and multimedia content development.

"Large and small business users today demand more functionality and power from their PCs than ever before," said Jim Yasso, vice president, Intel Architecture Business Group, and general manager, Reseller Products Division. "Now owners of Pentium Pro processor-based systems can bridge to Intel’s MMX technology and benefit from the overall improved performance of the Pentium II OverDrive processor."

The Pentium II OverDrive processor is designed to support upgradable systems in single and dual processor configurations. By using this capability, customers can upgrade dual socket systems by using two Pentium II OverDrive processors and take full advantage of advanced operating systems like Windows* NT* and UNIX*. In addition, the larger caches of the Pentium II OverDrive processor (compared to Pentium Pro processors designed for business desktop PCs, workstations, and entry- and mid-range network servers) will enable dual processor configurations in workstations and servers to achieve additional performance improvements beyond the clock speed increase.

Product Technical Details

The Pentium II OverDrive processor is manufactured on Intel’s advanced 0.25 micron process technology and is the same processor core as the Pentium II and Pentium II Xeon™ processors. The Pentium II OverDrive processor for Pentium Pro processor-based systems shares many similar technologies with the Pentium II processor, including Dual Independent Bus architecture, Dynamic Execution, Intel MMX technology, 32-KB Level 1 (L1) cache, and a closely coupled 512-KB Level 2 (L2) cache. The L2 cache bus runs at the full speed of the processor (for the 333 MHz Pentium II OverDrive processor the L2 cache bus runs at 333 MHz) which offers improved performance while performing data intensive tasks. Dual processor configurations require the use of two Pentium II OverDrive processors.

Designed for upgradable socket 8 systems, the 333-MHz Pentium II OverDrive processor test results provided 200-MHz Pentium Pro processor-based PCs with an overall performance increase for standard business applications of 47 percent under Windows 95 and 39 percent under Windows NT 4.0. In tests on media-rich applications developed around Intel’s MMX technology, the 333-MHz Pentium II OverDrive processor provided an overall performance increase of 80 percent. Test results show that upgrading a 150-MHz Pentium Pro processor to the 300-MHz Pentium II OverDrive processor produces even larger performance improvements on these benchmarks.

Pricing and Availability

The Pentium II OverDrive processor for upgradable Pentium Pro processor-based systems has a manufacturer’s suggested list price of $599. The same Pentium II OverDrive processor can upgrade 150- and 180-MHz Pentium Pro processor-based systems to 300 MHz, and 166- and 200-MHz processor-based systems to 333 MHz. Available in the second half of August, the Pentium II OverDrive processor can be purchased from resellers and distributors. For more information about Intel’s OverDrive processors, visit www.intel.com/overdrive.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.