Intel Announces New "Sextium" Processor
Review date: 1 April 1999. Last modified 03-Dec-2011.
April 1, 1999 00:01 AM, Santa Clara, California:
Processor giant Intel has startled the information technology industry by taking the wraps off the next generation of x86-compatible PC Central Processing Units (CPUs) unexpectedly early. The new processors will be dubbed the Sextium series.
The new Sextium, according to Intel, "won't just change the way
you think about computers - it'll change your whole life."
Industry observers have for some time now wondered why Intel persisted with
the Pentium name for processors considerably more advanced than the original
Pentium. The Pentium Pro, Pentium II and now the Pentium III have all been
released, leading many pundits to speculate that it was high time the Sextium
name was used.
"In retrospect, I don't know why we didn't call the P-Pro the Sextium,"
said Intel CEO Andy Grove in an interview with Dan's Data. "I mean, it's
not like it means something rude in Spanish, or something." Upon being asked
whether this was a reference to Intel's disastrous decision to release the
original Pentium in Hispanic countries as the Putanum, Mr Grove declined
to comment.
An Intel source who asked to remain anonymous spoke to us after Mr Grove
had left, and explained that Intel had originally intended the new processor
to be called the Hextium, but "that was a bit too obvious, know what I mean?"
We do not know what he meant.
The new Sextium part is scheduled to debut in Q2 of 2000, with distribution
anticipated to commence exactly one year from the April 1st product announcement.
The initial clock speed will be only 666MHz (Front Side Bus 133MHz, 5X multiplier),
as Intel has reported mysterious problems achieving higher speeds with the
new component. Craig Johnson, strategic planner for Intel's 32-bit product,
commented on these difficulties as follows: "It's really not a problem.
666 megahertz is a very good speed. Very good indeed. Yes. Good." His eyes
then glazed over and he walked slowly away, apparently oblivious to our
further questions.
Pricing of the new processor for 1000 unit orders is expected to be an unprecedented
$US10,000, although Intel have hinted at an as yet unexplained alternative
payment program in which end users are apparently required to sign a special
contract, and will receive in return a 666MHz Sextium processor, as well,
confusingly, as what is described as "all their worldly desires".
Ron Peck, Intel's director of Value PC Marketing, described this special
deal as "Marvellous value for the small office and home user, or indeed
for corporate users or, well, pretty much anyone, really." When pressed
for details of the special contract, Peck said: "It's a simple arrangement,
a... covenant, if you will... between the chip purchasers and a greater...
power." When asked if the "greater power" he referred to was Intel, he replied
"Of course. Yes. Ha ha ha! What did you think I meant!
Ha ha! The interview's over! Go away!"
A sample of the special contract was not available at the time of going
to press; according to an Intel spokesperson, the company is "experiencing
some minor issues related to the acquisition of the correct kind of parchment."
The Sextium's revolutionary new processor package approaches the size of
the conventional Pentium II or III cartridge, but fits into a 514 pin ZIF
socket instead of the PII/III edge connector. None of these "Socket 514"
motherboards are currently available, but Intel and other manufacturers
promise to have them available in time for the release of the Sextium. Representatives
of leading motherboard manufacturers Abit, AOpen, Chaintech, Diamond, Shuttle,
Supermicro and Tyan said in a statement earlier today: "We are strongly
committed to supporting this exciting new processor. Let there be no doubt
about our loyalty. No doubt at all. We will not fail you, lord Intel."
John Miner, vice president and general manager of Intel's Enterprise Server
division, explained that a Xeon version of the new CPU will be available,
for server applications. "It'll basically fill the same market niche as
the current Pentium II and Pentium III Xeons, but the name will be different."
When asked what the name of the new Xeon-class processor would be,
Miner explained: "It's kind of impossible for humans to pronounce. It still
starts with an X, though." He went on to say that Intel anticipated strong
sales of this "Processor that Must Not Be Named" at corporations such as
Procter and Gamble, Lucent and Microsoft, as well as numerous purchases
by "a significant market segment, those guys who build twin Xeon machines
and then run Windows 95 on them." Miner later described this segment of
the Xeon market as "about as sharp as a sack full of wet toilet rolls".
Robert Jecman, vice president and general manager of Intel's mobile and
handheld products group, has also promised a mobile version of the Sextium.
"It'll be mobile all right. Everybody'll be using them. They'll practically
- ha, ha - practically be a part of you!" He then pointed at his hand and
grinned.
A spokesperson for Pope John Paul II has released a statement on the new
processor which makes reference to it being "exactly what we've been warning
you about all this time," and goes on to say "That's it. You're on your
own. Go on, go and play Quake 3! Go on, do it! See if we care!"
Representatives of other ecclesiastical orders were not available for comment.
Dan's Data has received unconfirmed reports of senior clergy purchasing
canned food and shotguns.
