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WATT HOGS, THESE CHIPSLAPTOP MAKERS ARE struggling as they design notebooks to use Intel's newest Pentium II chip, and the difficulties could delay the models beyond their planned introduction in 1998's first half. Laptop manufacturers say privately that they are finding the new chip, code-named Deschutes, too hot to handle. Manufacturers, who are unwilling to comment publicly for fear of angering Intel, are scrambling to find better ways to dissipate the heat generated by test chips. So far, they're not even close to getting the acceptable temperature of about 100F on the outside of the case. Another big problem is power consumption. Intel has told laptop makers that Deschutes would draw 8 watts, plus 2 watts more for a new display technology called accelerated graphics port. That compares with just 3.9 watts for the fastest mobile Pentiums now available. Few laptops can run much longer than two hours on a charge. With the new chip, that could drop disastrously, to less than an hour. Intel insists the chip generates no more heat than it had previously indicated. As Intel sees things, it's up to laptop makers to find ways to reduce the power demands of other components, such as bright screens with large displays.
EDITED BY LARRY LIGHT
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Updated Oct. 9, 1997 by bwwebmaster
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