Intel to Mass Produce New Network Processor

Intel today said that they have begun to mass-produce a new high speed network processor dubbed "IXP1200." The new processor, vital to Intel’s latest thrust into the communications market, is capable of processing three million packets of data per second.

Capable of running terabit network equipment, the chip can process three million packets of data per second, and operate at 200 million cycles per second. Also a featured in these new chips is a facet to control the "quality of service" for use in voice or video data transfer. The feature would facilitate an administrator’s ability to give priority to those types of time critical data.

The IXP1200 will be available at two clock speeds, a 200 MHz version and a 166 MHz version. The 166 MHz versions however are limited to a data transfer rate of about 2.5 million packets per second.

The processors will be used for network switches and routers. Intel has signed up 25 network equipment manufacturers to use the new chips, that will be available at $200 for the 166 MHz model and $300 for the 200 MHz model respectively.