NEW YORK, March 2, 2004 – Intel Corporation today announced the availability of an enhanced Intel® Xeon™ processor for multi-processor servers. The processor delivers up to 25 percent** better performance compared to previous versions and enables customers to consolidate numerous applications onto fewer servers.

"The increased frequency and cache of this new Intel Xeon processor MP combine to deliver a significant boost in performance and outstanding price-performance for enterprise workloads," said Richard Dracott, general manager, enterprise marketing and planning for Intel's Enterprise Platforms Group. "These new processors, which are compatible with previous generation Intel Xeon Processor MP-based platforms, give users an immediate performance boost and an additional return on their IT investments."

The new Intel processor features a 3.0 GHz clock speed and 4 MB level three (L3) cache. The Intel Xeon processor MP has a strong established base of enterprise customers, including AIG SunAmerica, Inc., Coremetrics, Inc., MAXDATA, Mohawk Industries, Inc., Partners HealthCare System, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, UFJ Bank Limited and The Weather Channel. In addition to this broad range of customers, the price and performance of Intel Xeon processor MP systems has been particularly attractive to the financial sector.

"Intel Architecture has given Thomson Financial a proven and trusted platform for both our current and long-term needs in our enterprise," said Jeremy Lehman, senior vice president, Technology, Thomson Financial. "We chose Intel Architecture because of its outstanding price-performance, reliability, high availability and scalability for Thomson ONE Analytics*, giving our customers faster response times and quick access to financial data."

System manufacturers, including Unisys, which builds the systems used by Thomson Financial, are expected to offer more than 50 Intel Xeon processor MP-based systems, ranging from four to 32 processors, this year. Other leading manufacturers with systems based on the Intel Xeon processor MP include Bull, Dell, Egenera, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Gateway, HP, Hitachi, IBM, Kraftway, Langchao, Lenovo, NEC, Powerleader, Samsung and Toshiba, as well as regional system builders.

The Intel Xeon processor MP delivers scalability with compelling price-performance benefits for the enterprise application and mid-range data tier, including collaboration, application server, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, business intelligence, and customer relations management applications.

The Intel Xeon processor MP is also drop-in compatible with existing systems. It is designed to work with Intel® PRO Gigabit Ethernet Network Connections and Intel® Server RAID Controllers. Intel also recently announced the four-way capable Intel® Server Compute Blade SBX44 which supports the new Intel Xeon processor MP announced today and extends Intel’s modular building-block product line.

More than 85 percent of servers shipping today are based on Intel architecture***, according to industry analysts. Today's new products extend Intel's strength in multi-processor, business-critical server deployments, which are commonly referred to as the high end of a company's computing data center. Servers with four or more processors accounted for more than 56 percent*** of the total server market revenue in 2003. During this same period, shipments of servers capable of four or more processors that were based on Intel Architecture accounted for 57 percent*** of shipments.

The Intel Xeon processor MP at 3.0 GHz featuring a 4 MB L3 cache is now available worldwide for Intel's list price of $3,692 in 1,000-unit quantities. Intel is also releasing the Intel Xeon processor MP at 2.70 GHz and 2.20 GHz with 2 MB L3 cache at $1,980 and $1,177 in 1,000-unit quantities respectively.

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 http://www.intel.com/pressroom.

Intel and Intel® Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.