Intel sets Pentium entry for notebooks; slates latest price cuts

Electronic News, Oct 10, 1994 by Jim DeTar

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.--Intel will today introduce a Pentium processor targeted specifically at the portable notebook computer market. Although the new 75MHz Pentium features packaging options designed to make it an enticing notebook alternative, the device--like other members of the Pentium family--will require a heat sink or other heat dissipation technology to run optimally in notebooks.

Intel will also release its quarterly processor pricing list today, which will show reductions ranging from as little as $1 for the 3.3-Volt, 25MHz Intel486SX--which fell from $75 to $74--to a $120 price cut (or 17 percent) on the 90MHz Pentium, which fell from $707 to $587. The largest price reduction as a percentage was the Intel486DX2-66, which fell $72 (or 27 percent) from $271 to $199 in volume quantities.

The new 3.3V, 75MHz Pentium--manufactured on Intel's 0.6-micron, triple-layer metal process--will use a tape carrier package (TCP)--also known as tape automated bonding (TAB)--that leaves the bottom of the die exposed to reduce the heat, size and weight of the chip.

"We needed a package that would conduct the heat out and make simple designs possible. Manufacturers are always asking us to make the chips smaller," said Perry Lynne, Intel's product marketing manager for the mobile and home computing group. In an interview with Electronic News, Mr. Lynne said the new chip has distinctive characteristics that make it suitable for notebook computing.

"The first is the package. The bottom of the package is the actual die. Because of that, there is much less thermal resistance. Other enhanced thermal characteristics are SL enhanced technology and 3.3-volt operation." However, systems vendors will still need to use a heat sink or other device in most cases to dissipate heat.

"Manufacturers have a lot of options. The heat sink can be one. A heat pipe would be another. There are a lot of options. It depends on where the manufacturer puts the motherboard, what other peripheral boards are on the board and how they are using it." Some notebook OEMs may only require a partial heat sink, he said. "They may want to get some part of a heat sink. People typically look at their problem then do the thermal engine based on their constraints."

A variety of systems makers are slated to debut notebook systems incorporating the 75MHz Pentium today in conjunction with Intel's announcement. Among them are Toshiba, AMS Inc. and Infotel.

Steve Lair, VP of marketing for Toshiba America Information Systems' Computer Systems division, said, "The Pentium processor will now enable the truly enhanced multimedia experience in notebook computers such as the Toshiba T4900CT by dramatically increasing the video and graphics performance."

Other companies that Intel said are planning to unveil 75MHz Pentium notebooks in 4Q94 include Texas Instruments, Zenith Data Systems, and Panasonic. NEC has also said it is committed to a 75MHz Pentium notebook implementation.

A potential draw of the new device for OEMs is packaging. In addition to the TCP, Intel will offer the chip in a standard staggered pin grid array (SPGA) package. The 75MHz Pentium is priced at $495 each in the TCP version in 1,000-unit quantities, and $535 in the SPGA package. Although the TCP version is smaller, lighter and costs less, Intel is betting there is still a market for the SPGA package.

"Some manufacturers are more comfortable with the SPGA package. Notebook leaders typically like to use the smallest and best package available; however there are a number of manufacturers out there that are much more comfortable with the SPGA. You may also see some desktop manufacturers that might want to use this as well. We want to focus the 75MHz on notebooks initially. But over time there will be some (desktop) business machines emerge with the 75MHz," Mr. Lynne said.

The notebook computer market is being driven by market and technology developments such as the increasing acceptance of color screens. According to market research firm InfoCorp more than 90 percent of notebooks will have color displays by the end of 1995 plus lighter, higher-capacity storage devices. The notebook computer segment will grow from approximately 5.5 million units shipped worldwide in 1993, according to market research firm Dataquest, to an estimated 15 million units annually by 1996.

Intel is touting the horsepower of the Pentium as an engine for the next generation of portables. "Users want a small form factor desktop," Mr. Lynne asserted. "Intel's objective is to plan the mobile market into our product marketing plans. They will never be (introduced) on the same day. Always performance will be on a desktop or server first. But Intel wants to enable that into a notebook as soon as possible. So far, that is taking about six months."

Last February Intel previewed its first 3.3V Pentium--a 100MHz/90MHz device--at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (EN, Feb. 21) and formally introduced the devices a month later (EN, March 7).