Introduction

After a simultaneous processor release early in 2002, both Intel and AMD are settling back into the standard pattern of trying to beat the other to the punch. Intel impressed us with the Pentium 4 Northwood, as well as jumping a full 200 MHz with the Pentium 4-2.2 GHz. AMD followed this up with their Athlon XP 2100+, which once again had the juice to slip by the fastest Intel had to offer.

The last shot was fired by AMD, so naturally it should be Intel's chance to step up to the plate. And from first glance, Intel seems to be carrying a mighty big bat. With the release of the Pentium 4-2.4 GHz we're seeing yet another 200 MHz speed increase from Intel, which puts even more pressure on the Athlon XP. Compared to the AMD strategy of 66 MHz incremental releases, Intel continues to lay down the hammer 200 MHz at a time, and at some point the performance deadlock has to break.