Chronology of Microprocessors

Copyright © 2006-2017 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail:
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to create web links
to this site, not to copy these pages to other web sites.
URL: https://processortimeline.info/

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2017 April 29.


2003

January 7
  • Intel announces the new brand name for its next-generation mobile processor technology: Centrino. [1559]
January 14
  • Intel introduces the 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M processor for portable computers. Price is US$562 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
  • Intel introduces the 2 GHz mobile Celeron processor. Price is US$149 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
  • Intel introduces the 900 and 933 MHz Pentium III-M low-power mobile processors. [1559]
  • Intel introduces the 800 and 866 MHz Celeron low-power mobile processors. [1559]
February 10
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 2500+, 2800+, and 3000+ Athlon XP desktop processors. They feature 512 kB level 2 cache, 333 MHz system bus, 0.13-micron process, 101 mm2 die size. Model, speed, and price (in 1000-unit quantities) respectively: 2500+ 1.833 GHz, 2800+ 2.083 GHz, US$375, 3000+ 2.167 GHz US$588. [1470.32] [1559] [1774.32] [1775.8]
March 12
  • Intel releases Pentium-M processors based on the Centrino architecture. [1777.91] [2088.46] [2089.24]
  • Advanced Micro Devices introduces twelve new Athlon XP-M mobile processors, 25 to 72 watts power usage, up to 2.13 GHz speed. [1442.25] [1777]
March
  • Intel announces availability of the PXA255 processor, at 400 MHz speed, 200 MHz bus, 1.3-volt operation. [1777.90]
March 24
  • Intel begins providing samples of 200-400 MHz XScale processors to handheld device makers. The processors incorporate StrataFlash memory, allowing smaller handheld computers with improved battery life. [1559]
January-March
  • Market share of Intel-compatible microprocessors during January-March: Advanced Micro Devices 16.6%. [1559]
April 1
  • Intel releases the 2.3 and 2.4 GHz Celeron processor, for low-price computers. Prices are US$117 and US$127, respectively, in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
April 16
  • Intel releases the 2.5 GHz Pentium 4-M processor, for portable computers. Price is US$562 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
  • Intel releases the 2.2 GHz Celeron processor, for low-price computers. Price is US$149 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
  • Intel releases the 1.26 GHz Celeron processor, for mininotebook computers. Price is US$107 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
April 18
  • Intel halts the release of the 3 GHz Pentium 4 with 800 MHz bus, due to an anomoly. [1777.7]
April 21
  • Intel releases the 3 GHz Pentium 4 processor with 800 MHz front-side bus. Price is US$417 in 1000-unit quantities. The previously discovered problem is resolved by a software patch. [1599.8]
April 22
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the Opteron processor. It features 32-bit and 64-bit instruction operation, without requiring 32-bit code to be re-written. [1559] (April 21 [1695.20]) (March [2321.34])
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 2500+ processor. Price is US$124 in 1000-unit quantities. [1599.8]
May 6
  • Advanced Micro Devices launches the Athlon MP 2800+ processor for workstations. Price is US$275 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
May 13
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 3200+ desktop processor. It features 400 MHz system bus. Price is US$464 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559] (May 26 [1599.8])
May 21
  • Intel releases the 2.4, 2.6, and 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 processor with 800 MHz front-side bus. Prices are US$180, US$228, and US$278 respectively in 1000-unit quantities. [1599.8] [1788.8]
May 26
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 3200+ processor. It features 333 MHz front-side bus. Price is US$464 in 1000-unit quantities. [1788.8]
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the Athlon XP 3000+ desktop processor. It features 400 MHz system bus. Price is US$280 in 1000-unit quantities. [1599.8]
June 9
  • 25th anniversary of 8086. Earlier this year, 1 billionth based on x86 shipped. To date, AMD has shipped about 200 mill x86 processors. [1559]
June 11
  • Intel releases 2.4, 2.66, 2.8, and 3.06 GHz mobile Pentium 4 processors. Each features SpeedStep battery-saving technology, and 533 MHz system bus. Prices range from US$186 to US$417 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
  • Intel releases 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 GHz mobile Celeron processors. Prices range from US$74 to US$84 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
  • Intel releases the 2.6 GHz Pentium 4-M processor. Price is US$562 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
  • Intel releases the 2.4 GHz low power mobile Celeron processor. Price is US$149 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
June 23
  • Intel releases the 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 processor. It features Hyper-Threading, and system bus up to 800 MHz. Price is US$637 in 1000 unit quantities. [1559] [1599.8] [1788.8]
June 25
  • Intel releases 2.5 and 2.6 GHz Celeron processors. They feature 218 kB cache, and 400 MHz system bus. Prices are US$89 (2.5 GHz) and US$103 (2.6 GHz) in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
June 30
  • Intel debuts the Itanium 2 processor. Code-name during development was Madison. [1559]
April-June
  • Market share of PC processor shipments during April to June: Intel 82.6%. [1559]
(month unknown)
  • National Semiconductor sells its Geode processor division to Advanced Micro Devices. [1559]
September 16
  • Intel announces the 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition. It features 2 MB level three cache. [1559]
September 23
  • In San Francisco, California, Advanced Micro Devices launches the 64-bit Athlon 64 processor. The 2.2 GHz Athlon 64 FX-51 is priced at US$733 in 1000-unit quantities. The Athlon 64 3200+ is priced at US$417, and the Athlon 3000+ is priced at US$278. [1453.30] [1559] [1600.8] [1602.8] [1727.45] [1897.132] [2462.57]
July-September
  • Market share of Intel-compatible microprocessors during July-September: Intel 83.3%, Advanced Micro Devices 15.1-15.7%. [1559]
November 3
  • Intel releases the 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor, with 2 MB cache. Price is US$925 in 1000-unit quantities. [1600.8]
December
  • Advanced Micro Devices releases the 2 GHz Athlon 64 3000+ processor. It features 512 kB level 2 cache. Price is US$218 in 1000-unit quantities. [1559]
October-December
  • Market share of x86 personal computer processors in the USA during October to December: Intel 83.7%, Advanced Micro Devices 14.7%. [1559]
  • Market share of PC processor shipments during October to December: Intel 82.8%, Advanced Micro Devices 15.5%. [1559]
Year
  • Market share of PC processor shipments during the year: Intel 82.9%, Advanced Micro Devices 15.4%. [1559]

End of 2003. Next: 2004.

1958-1979 1980-1989 1990-1992 1993 1994 1995 1996-1997 1998-1999 2000 2001
2002 2003 2004-2005 2006-end


A list of references to all source material is available.

Other web pages of interest:

  • Chronology of Personal Computers
  • This Day in Personal Computer and Video Game History
  • This Day in History

  • Last updated: 2017 April 29.
    Copyright © 2006-2017 Ken Polsson (email: ).
    URL: https://processortimeline.info/
    Link to Ken P's home page.