Toronto, ON, June 22, 2004: In what the Company deems to be one of the most significant PC platform changes in a decade, Intel Corp. has announced a new set of products for PCs that include a range of audio, video, and other capabilities previously only found on specialty PCs. According to Intel, the new technologies will pave the way for emerging capabilities like High Definition (HD) video, 7.1 surround sound, and robust file protection.

According to Louis Burns, Vice President and General Manager, Intel Desktop Platforms Group, these technologies are helping create a new kind of PC, an all-in-one ‘hi-fi’ device with high-definition video, high-fidelity sound and wireless connectivity. "Intel innovation is taking the PC through a significant evolution that opens up a broader set of new consumer uses," said Burns. "This evolution will help people to better enjoy digital music, photos, videos and games on PCs and other devices in and around the home. At the same time, the technologies we are introducing for the PC platform will help drive new uses that boost office productivity, such as simultaneously using multiple monitors with just one PC to work on and track several projects."

A trio of new Intel chipsets and several new Intel Pentium 4 processors supporting Hyper-Threading Technology (HT1) are the foundation of these new platforms. PCs powered by Intel 915 G/P and 925X Express Chipsets, formerly codenamed Grantsdale and Alderwood, became commercially available worldwide today. These new chipsets are coupled with the latest Pentium 4 processors supporting HT Technology 5xx sequence, which are built on Intel's most advanced 90nm manufacturing process technology and run at speeds up to 3.60 GHz.

Audio quality on the PC is upgraded with Intel High Definition Audio, which supports 7.1 surround sound. The new platforms support other new audio capabilities, such as the ability to use a simple software setting to turn all the output jacks on a PC into headphone jacks so several colleagues can listen simultaneously from the same PC in a quiet environment. This ability gives the consumer much more flexibility in configuring how audio plays or is recorded on a system, Intel notes. The Intel High Definition Audio system also allows the capability of sending multiple sound streams simultaneously through the PCs output jacks, allowing one user to listen to an MP3 with headphones while another user is watching a video with multichannel surround sound from the same PC.

On PCs equipped with multiple hard drives, optional Intel Matrix Storage Technology can boost storage performance and help protect irreplaceable work files and personal digital memories through advanced technologies normally found in data centers (using RAID 0 and 1 capability).

Also introduced is Intel Wireless Connect Technology, which enables consumers to set up and configure a wireless home network in four steps. On systems configured with an optional version of an Intel 915 G/P or 925X Express Chipset plus a separate Intel PRO/Wireless 2225BG Network Connection solution, this feature allows for easier sharing of digital videos, photos and music in and around the home or office. It also allows for multiple wireless-enabled PCs to share one Internet connection or printer. Intel Wireless Connect Technology has been introduced with systems expected to be available in limited quantities later this year.

"These new technologies will help drive the digital revolution in the home and make the digital office more secure and productive," added Burns. "The Intel 915G Chipset is a key component of the desktop platform for the next iteration of the Intel Stable Image Platform Program (Intel SIPP). Intel SIPP can help companies reduce IT costs by simplifying the testing, deployment and management of their PC infrastructure." The goal of Intel SIPP, the firm explains, is to reduce the number of platform configurations, resulting in fewer software images in a business IT environment.

Integrated into the Intel 915G Express Chipset, the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 (Intel GMA 900) will provide new graphics features particularly suited to digital home and office applications. For example, one function allows workers to use dual-independent displays – utilizing multiple screens with just one PC - to make use of old monitors and be more productive. Video editors and people analyzing multiple sets of data are just a few of the users who will benefit from this capability, Intel notes.

Additionally, support for wide screen LCD TVs has been added to the Intel 915G Express Chipset, including support for HD-TV formats such as 1080i.

The Intel 915 G/P and 925X Express Chipsets will be Intel's first PC chipsets to feature a new higher-speed memory called DDR2, which provides headroom for the continued growth of PC platform uses. They will also feature PCI Express bus architecture, a new, higher bandwidth bus technology with up to 3.7X the throughput capability of the decade-old PCI standard. This increased bandwidth coupled with the multitasking benefits of HT Technology optimizes playback and simultaneous recording of HD video content, claims Intel, allowing a user with an HDTV tuner and appropriate software to watch a movie while recording a television program at the same time on just one PC, all in HD quality.

Additional technical information about the Intel 915 G/P and 925X Express Chipsets is available at: http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets.

The new family of Intel Pentium 4 processors supporting HT Technology 5xx sequence features an new package called LGA775, which will provide headroom for future technologies and improve electrical characteristics of the connection to the motherboard. The Intel Pentium 4 processor supporting HT Technology Extreme Edition family has also been implemented in this new package with the 3.40 GHz part.

For computer makers and system integrators, Intel also announced availability of ATX and micro-ATX form factor desktop motherboards. Additional technical information on these desktop boards is available at: http://developer.intel.com/design/motherbd.

Systems and motherboards with these processors and chipsets are currently shipping in volume with systems available from major OEMs and more than 150,000 Intel Resellers around the world.

Intel Wireless Connect Technology requires an Intel 915 G/P or 925X Express Chipset with Intel 82801FW or RW (ICH6W or RW) I/O Controller Hub and purchase of a separate Intel PRO/Wireless 2225BG Network Connection system. Availability will be limited.
The M30-710 and Special Edition M30-YSJ have 15.4’’ WXGA widescreen monitors, and come equipped with nVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics processors with 64 MB DDR video memory, Intel Centrino M processors (1.5/1.6 GHz), up to 80 GB hard disk drive (HDD), integrated 802.11 b/g wireless connectivity, Harmon Kardon speakers, and a CD-RW/DVD or DVD Super-Multi drive. The Special Edition model is the “deluxe widescreen entertainment version” of the M30, adding Toshiba TruBrite screen technology, which doubles the brightness of the LCD, and an Video/Audio input option to connect to an Xbox, cable or digital satellite, or to a larger TV monitor.

The M30-710 and M30-YSJ Special Edition are available for suggested list prices (SLPs) of $2,299 and $2,599, respectively.

The A70-TS1 ($1,999) and A70-RT1 ($1,799), also with 15.4’’ WXGA screens, feature Intel Pentium 4 processors (2.8 GHz/3.06 GHz, respectively) and HDDs of 40GB for the TS1 and 60GB for the RT1. They also come with CD/DVD control buttons, CD-RW/DVD drive, TV-out connections to display DVDs or games on TV monitors, and built-in speakers. The TS1 adds a multimedia port for Secure Digital, Memory Stick, MMC, xD-picture card, Parallel and FIR, expansion options.

Equipped with a 2.8 GHz Intel Celeron processor, the A60-JL1 ($1,599) boasts an ATI Mobility Radeon 7000 graphics processor, a CD-R/RW-DVD-R, a 40GB HDD, 15’’ XGA display, and 802.11g wireless capabilities.

“Integrated wireless connectivity, high speed processors and entertainment capabilities from gaming to DVD-playing make these new Satellite systems ideal for students and good value for parents,” stated Jason Laxamana, Product Manager, Toshiba ISG. “Featuring Microsoft’s OneNote organization tool, our newest Satellite notebook computers are great in and out of class.”

Additionally, Toshiba ISG is offering a “back-to-school” survival kit, which includes a backpack for carrying a notebook computer, video port combination cable lock, 1.1 USV 4 port swivel hub, retractable telephone cord, optical mini mouse, headphones, and USB speakers, all for "less than $200".

For more information, visit www.toshiba.ca.

[Photo: Toshiba ISG's new A70-RT1 (SLP$1,799) has a 15.4’’ WXGA screen, and features a 3.06GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, 60GB HDD, CD/DVD control buttons, CD-RW/DVD drive, TV-out connection, and built-in speakers.]