'Willamette' adds fuel to GHz race

When Intel unveils its latest offerings to hardware developers gathering in Palm Springs, Calif., later this month, highlights will include two new processor architectures.

"Willamette," the code name for Intel's next-generation 32-bit desktop processor, will be on hand offering clock speeds of "well in excess of 1GHz," according to Intel officials.

Willamette is expected to be a socketed chip, possibly for use with a 423-pin version of the current Intel 370-pin socket, sources said.

Intel will also preview its forthcoming Timna chip at the conference. Otimized for inexpensive personal computers, Timna will combine a Pentium processor core with an on-chip graphics engine and memory controller.

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