Intel CEO Outlines New Platform Directions
Increasing Performance While Reducing Power Consumption Creates New Computing Opportunities And Converged Devices
Noting that high-tech companies are growing again as a result of delivering exciting new products, Intel Corporation CEO
and president Paul S. Otellini said the industry is on a new ‘performance per watt’ course that will deliver powerful
Intel-based computers that are increasingly smaller, sleeker and more energy-efficient.
Describing Intel’s role in driving innovation at the Intel Developer Forum, Otellini unveiled the company’s
next-generation, power-optimised micro-architecture for future digital home, enterprise, mobile and emerging market
platforms - and low-power products that will enable a new category of converged consumer devices.
Intel will introduce the micro-architecture in the second half of 2006, which combines the strength of the company’s
current Intel NetBurst® and Pentium M® micro-architectures and adds new features. The multicore foundation will help
enable unique computer designs that will power the industry’s most sophisticated and user-friendly digital home and
office PCs. It will also help IT managers increase responsiveness and productivity while at the same time reducing
real-estate and electricity burdens companies face as server data centres grow.
“You’re going to see Intel combine its R innovation, manufacturing and technology leadership with energy-efficient micro-architectures and powerful multicore
processors to deliver unique platforms best tailored to individual needs,” Otellini said. “We will deliver ‘factor of
10’ breakthroughs to a variety of platforms that can reduce energy consumption tenfold or bring 10 times the performance
of today’s products. At the same time, Intel innovation will continue to deliver unique digital enterprise, home, office
and mobile features, such as greater manageability, security and virtualisation, along with an increasing capability to
manage and view digital content.”
Otellini showed the first public demonstration of Merom, Conroe and Woodcrest - processors for notebook, desktop and
server platforms designed on Intel’s advanced 65-nanometer technology manufacturing process. He also said Intel has more
than 10 processor projects that contain four (quad-core) or more processor cores per chip.
Otellini also announced that forthcoming lower-power products will lead to a new category of ultra energy-efficient
‘Handtop PC’ devices that provide a converged communication and PC-like experience but require less than a watt of
processing power and weigh under a pound.
In an environment of rising global energy use and prices, Otellini said that significant decreases in a computer’s
wattage consumption could save billions of dollars in electricity as hundreds of millions of new PCs and servers are
sold in the coming years. Intel and analysts predict that as many as 200 million computers may be sold this year alone.
Intersecting Innovation and Needs - From Car Batteries to Better Manageability
Emphasising Intel’s strategy to deliver ground-breaking platforms tailored for the digital home, enterprise and
developing countries, Otellini showcased Intel’s concept ‘community computer’ via video from a remote village in India.
The emerging market-targeted computer has the ability to run for several hours on a car battery and withstand
temperatures greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) - and includes screens and filters to reduce the
effect of wind storms, dust and bugs. The PC can provide internet access through wireless networks such as WiMAX.
Otellini emphasised that WiMAX plays a key role in both delivering high-speed broadband and premium entertainment to
digital homes, as well as internet access to rural areas.
Intel’s digital enterprise focus includes creating and rapidly adopting technology innovation focused on business needs,
such as the company’s ‘star technologies’ (*Ts) as an example. The *Ts include manageability and virtualisation that
cover Intel’s platforms portfolio - from Intel-based clients to servers and networks - and provide new consumer and IT
benefits.
Intel and Lenovo demonstrated Intel VT, one such *T. Among other capabilities, virtualisation will enable IT managers to
‘cordon off’ a section of the platform for maintenance, to troubleshoot or download software without interrupting a PC’s
functions. The feature will be part of Intel’s next-generation, stable image platform for office PCs.
Intel is also working closely with the emerging digital entertainment industry to spur innovation in the home, including
PC and CE devices that work together effortlessly and deliver the latest online content services for anytime, anywhere
access.
Specifically, Intel is developing a platform and related technologies to power these PC and CE devices, as well as
working with the entertainment and computing industries on interoperability standards and digitising content.
About IDF
Now in its ninth year, IDF is the premier global technology forum for hardware and software developers to confer on
Intel-based platforms, technologies and solutions, and the new usage models they enable. More than 25,000 technology
experts come together at IDF in more than a dozen countries each year. Visit www.intel.com/idf for more information.
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.
ENDS
Intel, NetBurst, Pentium and Intel Pentium are marks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries
in the United States and other countries.
* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.