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Intel's new 3.06-GHz Pentium 4 processor is available in a variety of PCs designed for users in both the consumer and business markets who are seeking high performance, according to announcements Thursday from a number of vendors.

Intel's new processor is its first with hyperthreading for desktop machines. Hyperthreading allows the chip to more efficiently execute multiple software threads, found in newer products such as Microsoft's Windows XP and the latest version of Word. Additionally, users who are running multiple applications at the same time, such as a virus-scanning program and a game, will see a 30 percent increase in performance, according to Intel.

Dell's PC Plans

Dell Computer announced that the new chip will be an option in the consumer Dimension 8250, the Precision 350 workstation, and the business-oriented OptiPlex GX260 and SX260 for users buying through Dell's build-to-order system.

The new technology does not come cheaply. A Dimension 8250, with the new Pentium 4, 512MB of RDRAM, a 200GB hard drive, a Radeon 9700 Pro graphics card from ATI Technologies, a DVD+RW drive, and an 18-inch flat-panel display will cost $2999 at Dell's Web site.

The Precision 350 workstation will feature the new Pentium 4, 512MB of RDRAM, an 80GB hard drive, the Fire GL E1 graphics card from ATI, a CD-RW drive, and an 18-inch flat-panel display for a price of $3599. The workstation also comes with a three-year warranty, as opposed to the one-year warranty for the consumer machine.

Dell's business users can also choose from either OptiPlex model, with a sample configuration of the SX260 with the new Pentium 4, 256MB of DDR SDRAM, a 20GB hard drive, a CD-ROM drive, and a 15-inch flat-panel display priced at $1854.

More New Releases

Hewlett-Packard will offer the new chip in its configurable Pavilion 793. A sample configuration of a low-end system comes with 128MB of DDR SDRAM, a 40GB hard drive, and a CD-ROM drive for $1259, while the midrange system adds a DVD/CD-RW combination drive, a GeForce 4 MX card from NVidia, more memory, and a bigger hard drive for $1699. High-end users can opt for a configuration with 512MB of DDR SDRAM, a 120GB hard drive, a GeForce 4 Ti graphics card, and a DVD+RW/+R drive for $2099. All prices include a $150 rebate. The systems will not come with a monitor.

HP plans to make the chip available in its Compaq Evo D310 line of corporate desktops and workstations within the next few days, an HP representative said.

On Thursday, MicronPC released a system with the new Pentium 4 processor but also released a PC powered by a chip from Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices. MicronPC's Millennia 910i will come with the Pentium 4, 256MB of DDR-333 SDRAM, a 40GB hard drive, a CD-RW drive, and a 15-inch flat-panel display for $1999.

The AMD version, the 910a, sells for the same price with AMD's Athlon XP 2800+, 512MB of DDR-333 SDRAM, an 80GB hard drive, a CD-RW drive, and the 15-inch flat panel display.

The 910a is one of the first systems to feature the Athlon XP 2800+, which AMD said (when it launched the chip on October 1) would be available in late November through a limited number of retailers.

Gateway announced its pair of high-end desktops with the new Pentium 4 on Tuesday.

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