Intel's 2 in 1

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CNet has a story about Intel's latest buzz-word technology, "hyperthreading". Using some previously unused Pentium 4 circuitry, the CPU can operate more efficiently. On a Xeon workstation they got a 30 percent improvement using this technology. However, just like SSE2, developers will have to program in support in their programs for this to work. They have some time to adapt though, as the technology is coming out for servers and workstations next year, with desktop support not coming until 2003. Of course, they managed to involve the Internet again!

Ideally, hyperthreading, which has been under development for four and a half years, will show meatier benefits. An individual could play games while simultaneously downloading multimedia files from the Internet with a computer containing the technology, Poulin predicted.
Hyperthreaded chips would also be cheaper than dual-processor computers. "You only need one heat sink, one fan, one cooling solution," he said, along with, of course, one chip.

Play games and download multimedia files from the Internet at the same time? Wow!
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