Intel launches fastest Celeron yet

Intel today unveiled its fastest processor and chipset so far for the budget range PC market.

The 800MHz processor incorporates a 100MHz side bus that should give a 20 per cent boost in performance compared with PCs that presently run a 66MHz bus on the current 766MHz Celeron. In a statement, Jeff McCrea, director of desktop platform marketing at Intel, said: "Intel is updating the hardware ingredients of value PCs to bring more performance and capabilities to consumers in 2001. "These new technologies are expected to proliferate quickly, enabling a wide variety of system designs for the new year." The new Intel 810E2 chip, is expected at the Consumer Electronics Show to be held in Las Vegas this week. More chips will become available worldwide within the next 30 days at a price of $27 per 1,000 chipset units.