Santa Clara (CA) - Intel today released its first 64-bit capable desktop processor. The new Pentium 4 6xx-series adds more performance as well as Enhanced SpeedStep, a feature that throttles clock speed and can reduce power consumption of the chip.

The five new processors take on the role of the flagship product of Intel’s desktop processors. While, the 5xx-series remains part of the manufacturer’s product line, the new chips offer a solid upgrade based on the Prescott core with new features that pay tribute to current technology trends and mark a transition point to the upcoming Smithfield dual-core Pentiums in the second quarter of this year.

The new processors are clocked at 3.0 GHz (Pentium 4 630), 3.2 GHz (640), 3.4 GHz (650) and 3.6 GHz (660), support Intel’s 800 MHz front side bus (FSB) and integrate instead of the 5xx’s 1 MByte L2 cache now 2 MByte. The sporty model of the product line will remain an Extreme Edition of the Pentium 4, now clocked at 3.73 GHz, support of a 1066 FSB and also 2 MByte L2 cache. Compared to the 5xx, the 6xx’s die size increased significantly from 112 sqmm to 135 sqmm. The transistor count swelled from 125 million to 169 million.

The big news of the introduction is the arrival of EM64T. About two years after AMD’s first 64-bit desktop processors, Intel now follows with a very similar extension that allows users to run 32-bit and 64-bit applications on the chip without taking performance hits in the 32-bit space as it was the case with Intel’s IA-64 approach. Later this year, Intel will include EM64T across it entire product line, including Celeron D chips and specially marked Pentium 4 5xx versions and clock speeds of at least 3.0 GHz.

Criticized for being too power-hungry and generating quite some heat, the new 6xx chips are able to scale their clock speed down to 2.8 GHz, if the complete performance capability of the chip is not demanded. Intel did not say how efficient this technology will work in everyday life, but the thermal envelope specifications are set at the same value as the predecessor’s. Most Pentium 4 chips post a maximum power consumption of 84 watts, processors with a clock speed of 3.6 GHz or higher are rated at 115 watts. The dual-core Smithfield processors will consume up to 130 watts.

According to Intel, the 6xx processors are available in volume now and are priced at $224 (630), $273 (640), $401 (650) and $605 (660). The Pentium 4 EE 3.73 rings in at $999.

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