Intel To Break US$100 Barrier With New Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Unveils Desktop and Server Adapters for Mainstream Copper-Based Networks;
Produces Single-Chip Gigabit Ethernet Controllers in Volume
Intel Corporation today announced that it has begun shipping samples of third-generation Gigabit Ethernet adapters.
These include a desktop adapter that will be available later this year for the suggested retail price of US$99, as well
a server adapter. Both adapters are optimized for common copper networks and should help accelerate the deployment of
Gigabit Ethernet networks. In addition, Intel is now in volume production of the world’s first single-chip Gigabit
Ethernet controllers.
To help solve network bottlenecks created by bandwidth-intensive applications, such as data warehousing, IP storage and
video streaming, organizations are beginning to deploy Gigabit Ethernet technologies that allow data to travel over a
network at 1 billion bits per second (or 1,000 Mbps).
“As customers upgrade servers and desktops to Intel’s multi-gigabit processors with next generation bus architectures,
they need to also scale network bandwidth to Gigabit Ethernet levels. This provides a balanced, high performance
environment,” said Greg Lang, vice president and general manager of Intel’s Platform Networking Group. “We expect
Intel’s new adapters to help accelerate the deployment of Gigabit Ethernet by providing customers with up to ten times
the performance of Fast Ethernet on standard copper networks for less than $100.”
According to Cahners In-Stat, the Gigabit Ethernet adapter market segment grew at 287 percent in 2000, with Intel
increasing its position as the worldwide leader to 48 percent market segment share. The overall Gigabit Ethernet adapter
market segment is forecast to grow from $168 million in 2001 to $1.7 billion in 2005.**
Intel Samples Desktop and Server Adapters
Both the Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop Adapter and the Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter are based on Intel’s single-chip
Gigabit Ethernet controller, and feature advanced auto-negotiation and auto-sensing technology. With this technology, IT
managers can deploy adapters into existing Category 5 Ethernet (10 Mbps) or Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) networks. As the
network infrastructure evolves, the adapters will automatically adjust performance to higher Gigabit Ethernet (1000
Mbps) speeds without additional configuration.
The Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server adapter supports the PCI-X bus, which provides faster and more efficient networking. PCI-X
is a new bus architecture allowing servers to transfer data faster within systems, which helps alleviate communication
bottlenecks and improve the overall performance of the network. Both adapters will also support a broad range of
operating systems, including Microsoft Windows NT*, Microsoft Windows* 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, Linux*, Novell
Netware*, SunSoft Solaris* and SCO UnixWare*.
The new adapters will be demonstrated publicly for the first time at the TECHXNY technical conference in New York next
week.
Intel Produces Single-Chip Gigabit Ethernet Controllers
The Intel® 82544EI Gigabit Ethernet Controller and the Intel® 82544GC Gigabit Ethernet Controller enable OEMs to build
Gigabit Ethernet network connections directly into servers, workstations or networking devices using a type of
connection called LAN-on-motherboard (LOM).
The controllers are up to 70 percent smaller than previous generations. Customers can select either the Intel 82544EI
Gigabit Ethernet Controller, available in a 27x27mm package for
standard servers or workstations, or the Intel® 82544GC Gigabit Ethernet Controller, available in a reduced-size,
21x21mm package for ultra-dense or space-constrained servers. Intel’s single-chip Gigabit Ethernet controllers use less
than 50 percent of the power of previous controllers, generating less heat to help improve the reliability of systems.
Pricing and Availability
The Intel® 82544EI Gigabit Ethernet Controller and the Intel 82544GC Gigabit Ethernet Controller are now available for
the suggested retail price of US$68.50 and US$69.90 each in quantities of 1,000 units. The Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop
Adapter and the Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter are now sampling and will be available in volume later this year. The
desktop adapter will be available for the suggested retail price of $99. Pricing for the server adapter will be
disclosed later this year.
* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Intel is a trademark or registered trademark of Intel
Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
** Source: Cahners-InStat, Network Clients Market: Getting Fast and Mobile, May 2001.